November 19, 2025
Local trainer David McCormick could not be happier going into the big New Zealand Cup Day race on Tuesday.
That’s the result of an exceptional run for a close fourth place finish by Maui at Kaikoura on Monday and drawing marble one in the $400,000 Dominion Trot at Addington.
He’s racing right up to the more favoured runners and if he can slot not too far back on the marker pegs, he could easily sneak into the top four and with opening odds of $81 he is sure worth a gold coin.
He has been in the care of son Lawrence, who will drive him on Tuesday, while David, also a part[1]owner, has been enjoying ä break at the Melbourne Cup.
“He was full of running after the finish at Kaikoura and if he had obtained racing room earlier, he may have finished closer,” David McCormick said. “He is fit and ready to go and both Eliz and I are really looking forward to the day on Tuesday.”
The McCormick family have bred and trained their own trotters for many years, with uncle Ainsley winning the race with Spinster Scott in 1962, his father Doug has had a couple of unplaced starters.
Regardless of the result on Tuesday, it is a huge honour to be able to start with a horse you have bred, owned and trained, with a son to drive. American Me, trained by Brent and Tim White, is our only local starter in the feature IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup race on Tuesday over 3200m.
He was fifth in the Kaikoura Cup and drawing marble 14 it won’t be easy with the likes of Republican Party, Leap To Fame and Merlin drawing the front line.
Driver Ricky May will look for short cuts along the marker pegs to help his chances.
Two years ago, he was a very good fourth in the race but this season he has just not hit that form he showed back then.
Local trainer David McCormick could not be happier going into the big New Zealand Cup Day race on Tuesday.
That’s the result of an exceptional run for a close fourth place finish by Maui at Kaikoura on Monday and drawing marble one in the $400,000 Dominion Trot at Addington.
He’s racing right up to the more favoured runners and if he can slot not too far back on the marker pegs, he could easily sneak into the top four and with opening odds of $81 he is sure worth a gold coin.
He has been in the care of son Lawrence, who will drive him on Tuesday, while David, also a part[1]owner, has been enjoying ä break at the Melbourne Cup.
“He was full of running after the finish at Kaikoura and if he had obtained racing room earlier, he may have finished closer,” David McCormick said. “He is fit and ready to go and both Eliz and I are really looking forward to the day on Tuesday.”
The McCormick family have bred and trained their own trotters for many years, with uncle Ainsley winning the race with Spinster Scott in 1962, his father Doug has had a couple of unplaced starters.
Regardless of the result on Tuesday, it is a huge honour to be able to start with a horse you have bred, owned and trained, with a son to drive. American Me, trained by Brent and Tim White, is our only local starter in the feature IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup race on Tuesday over 3200m.
He was fifth in the Kaikoura Cup and drawing marble 14 it won’t be easy with the likes of Republican Party, Leap To Fame and Merlin drawing the front line.
Driver Ricky May will look for short cuts along the marker pegs to help his chances.
Two years ago, he was a very good fourth in the race but this season he has just not hit that form he showed back then.
