Racing: Auckland attracts our superstar pacers

Alexandra Park is winning a crucial battle for New Zealand's best pacers in the build-up to the Auckland Cup.

Bettor's Strike became the latest open-class star to be committed to the March 12 feature after his brave victory in Sunday night's A$125,000 Tasmania Cup in Hobart.

New Zealand's most improved racehorse capped a remarkable two months when he overcame a 20m handicap in the hands of wonder reinsman Dexter Dunn.

Just three months ago Bettor's Strike was beaten as a warm favourite in a mediocre Addington intermediate race but since then has been on a rampage.

He has set a national 2600m record, finished a close second in the New Zealand Cup and then won the Cranbourne, Victoria and Tasmania Cups.

"I'd like to sound smart and say this was all part of a master plan but it isn't," said trainer Cran Dalgety.

"I am surprised just how much he has improved and now we have gone from being a horse who was lucky to be in the big races to one of the big boys.

"That was a big win [on Sunday] because he had to come wide and it was another great drive from Dex."

Bettor's Strike was three wide without cover over the last 800m in 56.7 seconds, but wore down the leaders to grab Tanabi Bromac, with former Auckland pacer Power Of Tara fading to fifth late after having a hard run.

Bettor's Strike will now head to the A$400,000 Hunter Cup on February 6, the last night of harness racing at Moonee Valley.

But while he would be among the favourites for the Interdominions, which start later that month in Sydney, Bettor's Strike is almost certain to return to New Zealand for the $500,000 Auckland Cup instead.

"I think a one-off race like that suits him better than three races in two weeks at the Interdoms," says Dalgety.

"And the first round of heats being at Harold Park doesn't really suit him either."

Dalgety's attitude matches that of many fellow New Zealand trainers and the Auckland Cup looks set to benefit greatly from it.

Coming just five days after the Interdominion Final in Sydney, the Alexandra Park feature could have become something of an afterthought.

But already Bettor's Strike, Kiwi Ingenuity and Changeover are committed to the cup, rather than the Interdoms, although the last mentioned could possibly contest both.

Monkey King, who is heading to the Interdoms, is pencilled in to return for the cup as well.

"All things going well we will do both," says his trainer Brendon Hill.

"Hopefully, I will have Baileys Dream and Tennis Ball up there for the cup as well."

With leading Australian 4-year-old Bonavista Bay also being set for the Auckland Cup, it is now shaping as being as strong as, or slightly inferior to, the Interdom Final instead of being overshadowed by the Sydney feature.

While the clash between the Interdoms and the Auckland Cup will mean none of Australia's elite open-class pacers make the trip to Alexandra Park, that blow has been lessened by the New Zealand domination of the Grand Circuit so far.

Not only did we win an Australian-heavy New Zealand Cup but Monkey King (Miracle Mile) and Bettor's Strike's three cups in Australia in a month have given the Kiwis their best start to an Australian open-class season.