Monkey heads to holidays

Trish Dunell

SIDEWAYS GLANCE: Monkey King hangs on to beat Tintin In America (inner) in the Auckland Cup on Friday night at Alexandra Park.

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PUNTERS WHO backed Monkey King down to microscopic odds would have had heart palpitations if they could have read driver Ricky May's mind during the running of Friday night's Auckland Trotting Cup.

The season's undisputed star might have been sitting in a beautiful trail behind leader Bondy, but May said he could tell only metres into the race that the little slugger was well down on his best, obviously feeling the effects of a tough Interdominion series in New South Wales.

And just when punters everywhere were starting to celebrate as Monkey King claimed stablemate Bailey's Dream short of the line, May again was reminded of how far down on his best the horse was when he took exception to being hit with the whip, as Tintin In America dived at him late up the passing lane.

"I shouldn't have hit him. He hated it, and tried to pull up," May said. "He's definitely had enough because he's not normally like that."

Monkey King's dramatic head turn just on the line saw him scrape home by only half a neck, a margin which May said he was sure would have been much bigger had he simply driven the horse out without the whip.

"He's definitely a tired horse, " trainer Benny Hill echoed. "To be honest he was probably only 85% right tonight which makes his performance even better.

"His blood was good but I know what he's been through and with all the travel he's just had enough."

Monkey King started to show signs of tiredness in the Interdominion Final at Menangle the previous week where, despite running a brave second to Blacks A Fake, he ran out uncharacteristically in the stretch and showed none of his usual zip.

Owner Robert Famularo, praising May and Hill as the two heroes behind the horse, was also quick to thank Pukekohe vet John Ewen for helping to pick up Monkey King and Baileys Dream after their arrival home last Tuesday.

Famularo described Hill as "a freak of nature" for having orchestrated an unrivalled six-month campaign with Monkey King, which has seen him bank $1,732,799 from his last 12 starts.

With earnings of $1,022,944 in New Zealand and $709,805 in Australia, Monkey King set a modern-day record for a single campaign, which started on September 27, and saw him notch eight wins and three seconds, his only non-dividend bearing run an unlucky fourth in the Victoria Cup. Harness veterans struggled to recall another horse who had captured the New Zealand Cup, New Zealand Free-for-all, Miracle Mile and Auckland Cup in one season.

"Benny's something special to have achieved that," said Famularo of his private trainer.

"We were going to go on to the Easter Cup with him but he'll go out for a long spell now. Bailey can have a play in the Easter Cup."

May, winning his first Auckland Cup, said driver Todd Mitchell had made it clear to him on pulling up after the race that he should not expect to get the reins back behind big Bailey at Easter.

Mitchell said he could not believe the way Bailey's Dream had recovered after seeing him with his head hanging before the Interdominion Final.

And he couldn't believe how Bailey, despite being parked out for much of the trip, had wanted to "give it to Bondy at the 400" and still looked like winning until 50 metres short of the post.

Mitchell said Bailey's Dream, who resumed racing after a 13-month injury-enforced spell only in February, had some big wins in him yet.

Mitchell reported the horse did well not to gallop 1400 metres from home when a plastic bag flew across the track under his feet and he jumped it.

Hill said he realised the pressure was now on for next season. Even though Monkey was rising eight, his fans would expect him to repeat his efforts and extend his bankroll of $2,911,590, which is just shy of Lyell Creek's earnings' record. "I'd better ring Nat [Rasmussen] and ask her how she does it with Blacks A Fake."

- © Fairfax NZ News