Swayzee, Just Believe triumph in NZ group 1 double

MIGHTY stayer Swayzee led an Australian pillaging of New Zealand's biggest race day at Addington.

In arguably the most amazing "story" of the $NZ 1 million Group 1 NZ Cup's 121-year history, Swayzee overcame a manic racing and travel schedule to become the first Aussie pacer to successfully defend his title in the iconic race.

Earlier in the day, champion Australian trotter Just Believe thrashed his rivals in the other feature race, the $NZ 400,000 Group 1 Dominion Trot.

But Swayzee's win was the story of the day.

The mighty NSW stayer, backed into $2.20 favourite, raced and won at Young last Friday night and then had flights from Sydney to Auckland and another to Christchurch, only arriving at 9.30pm on Sunday night.

Just when it looked like the challenge might have found him out and local star Don't Stop Dreaming headed Swayzee at the 100m, the Aussie found another gear and pulled clear for a remarkable win.

Winning back-to-back NZ Cups is more amazing when you consider Arden Rooney (2015) is the only other Aussie-trained pacer to win the race since My Lightning Blue did in 1987.

Swayzee that was enormous! One of the toughest wins you'll ever see in the NZ Cup! ???? pic.twitter.com/z0B1MMuwBQ

"Now we'll come back and chase a third Cup," triumphant trainer Jason Grimson said. "People made a lot of his travel, but I always felt he had the demeanour to handle it. He's an amazing horse."

Driver Cam Hart, who also won on Swayzee last year, said this year was even sweeter.

"It doesn't get better than this, just to come back and win it again … it sort of ices his greatness," he said.

"I actually wasn't that worried when Dont Stop Dreaming came at me because Swayzee was loafing. As soon as he saw that horse, he switched on again and really lifted. He was hitting top gear again on the line."

Grimson said Swayzee would bypass the NSW Inter Dominion, starting later this month.

"He won't be here Friday, either. He's going for a bit of spell," he said.

Earlier, Just Believe smashed through the $2 million prize money barrier with his Dominion win.

It was Just Believe's 10th Group 1 – and this third at Group 1 level in NZ – and took his career earnings to $2,015,845.

Driver and co-trainer Greg Sugars was moved to declare the win, in front of a packed NZ Cup Day crowd – as the highlight of his stellar career.

"That's top of the tree for me," he said. "To come over here (NZ) and win the TAB Trot at Cambridge earlier this year was really special to me, but this, here at this track, is better again."

To underline the significance of the win, Just Believe was the first Aussie-trained horse to win the Dominion since the mighty Scotch Notch a staggering 41 years ago.

Incredibly, Just Believe has gone to another level since his daunting three-race Swedish raid in the middle of last year.

Since returning home, the rising nine-year-old has raced 21 times for 19 wins and two seconds.

"Jess (Tubbs, trainer) and I just marvel at him. You run out of things to say about him," Sugars said. "Somehow, despite his age, he's not only going as well as ever, but possibly better."

Just Believe will back-up at Addington on Friday, chasing an 11th Group 1 win in the $NZ 100,000 NZ Trottting free-for-all.

Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.