Monkey King's win 'very, very special'

DAVID HALLETT/The Press

THIRD TIME LUCKY: Monkey King, driven by Ricky May, far side, comes through to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway yesterday.

IAIN MCGREGOR/Waikato Times

GO RICKY: Monkey King driver Ricky May is hugged by Justine Fisher, the trainer's partner, after the win.

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The Australian invasion was repelled in a classic case of monkey business in yesterday's New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Tears streamed down the face of owner Robert Famularo as North Canterbury-trained Monkey King triumphed in the $1 million race, with Methven maestro Ricky May celebrating his fourth cup-winning drive at Addington Raceway.

"I promised to be cool, calm and collected this year and I was – until the national anthem," an ecstatic Famularo said. "Then I started to cry ... then I recovered; then I cried again at the end of the race.

"This is very, very special," he said before posing with the golden cup with proud trainer Brendon (Benny) Hill.

Famularo had every reason to show his emotion at clinching the richest harness race in New Zealand, worth $538,860 to the winner. It was third time lucky for Monkey King. The seven-year-old gelding was narrowly beaten two years ago and finished last in 2008 after succumbing to illness.

"It would have been a travesty if he had finished his career without something like this," said Famularo after watching the race from a birdcage seat with wife Kerry and their two daughters.

They had the Canterbury crowd right behind him, literally and spiritually. Punters stood on seats and tables to will May and Monkey King on, lest an Australian interloper annex the title.

"Go Ricky," they screamed as May – almost 20 years to the day after his first cup triumph – ran a finely-judged race, timing Monkey King's spurt to perfection.

Rival reinsman Robbie Holmes (Kiwi Ingenuity) admitted in a pre-race interview that he "didn't want Monkey King on my back".

Nor did the other local hopefuls or the four-strong Australian contingent, including Washakie, once owned by Famularo's Cavalla Bloodstock company.

Famularo was effusive in his praise of his driver and trainer.

"Ricky May is a freak of nature," he said. "And Brendon is a major part of this [victory]."

Monkey King set the second fastest winning time in cup history.

- © Fairfax NZ News