Kruizr cruises to victory in Marlborough Cup

Kruizr lived up to his name, producing a superbly-timed late run to take out the feature race at the two-day Marlborough Harness Racing Club meeting at Waterlea today.

After opting to skip the Marlborough Cup Prelude on the first day, the Michael House-trained six-year-old gelding prevailed by a length in the Motorworld 2021 Marlborough Cup, driven by the vastly-experienced Jim Curtin.

Second was Plutonium Lady, in the hands of Samantha Ottley, the combination having taken out Friday’s Cup Prelude, the feature race on a well-attended first day.

Plutonium Lady, driven by Samantha Ottley, won the Cup Prelude on Friday.

Gilligan’s Island, piloted by Sheree Tomlinson, was third on Sunday.

Plutonium Lady led for most of the 2850m journey, trying for her third win in a row, but Kruizr, who has won recently at Nelson and Westport, dashed home on the outside to get the money.

Driver Tim Williams provided a highlight of the first day, piloting home five of the 12 winners. His day started perfectly with two wins for trainer Paul Kerr (Greenbank Betty and Duffy Hollow) and then Ashes To Ashes won race 6, Peraki Seelster race 7 and I Dream Of Jeannie took out the last, at 18-1.

Williams then drove back to Christchurch to work more of his stable, before heading back to Blenheim for Sunday’s racing, where he picked up another win to be the top driver over the two days.

John Dunn, with four winners on Sunday, was the second most prolific driver.

Local trainer Mark Gill also had a memorable meeting, picking up three third placings on Friday with Donegal Carnbouy, Gotta Ticket and He’s Fast and Furious. He bagged another third with He’s Fast and Furious on Sunday, to show the way for the local contingent at the course’s only meeting for the year.