Underrated three-year-old Luvtobeuptome added to the Aussie dominance in New Zealand Cup week with a terrific win in a support race on Friday.
It was a perfect preparation for his main target, next Friday’s Group 1 NZ Derby.
Luvetobeuptome will be joined by Queensland Derby winner Palladium to give Australian a twin-pronged attack on the feature.
Boom local Jumal will be the dominant favourite.
Luvetomeuptome justified trainer Courtney Slater’s decision to make the long trip when he beat a strong field of older rivals on their merits.
“They kept telling me how strong of a field it was, so hopefully that’s a great sign for the Derby next week,” driver Josh Duggan said.
“It shows he’s a serious horse, this guy and he’s just going to keep getting better as he gets older, too.”
Luvetomeuptome has run in a string of major three-year-old races at home this season and won a heat and final of the SA Derby in dominant style before making the trip across the ditch.
That was his ninth win from just 24 starts with another eight placings.
Duggan thanked Slater and connections for giving him the chance to drive in NZ.
“It’s a big thing for them to give me a chance like this. It means the world,” he said.
“Winning a race at Addington in Cup Week is amazing.”
Slater, who had family commitments back home and couldn’t be at Addington, was buzzing after the win.
“That was absolutely awesome,” she said. “We’re a great little team.
“We wanted to give the horse this chance because we might never get one good enough to do it again.”
PHOTO: HRNZ/Race Images NZ
