Oliver takes Auckland Cup on favourite Zavite

Report: New Zealand, Wednesday

Ellerslie: Stella Artois Auckland Cup (Group 1) 2m,

ZAVITE (Anthony Cummings/Damien Oliver) delighted favourite backers at Ellerslie on Wednesday when streaking away with the NZ$1m Group 1 Auckland Cup in a hugely impressive performance under top weight.

Although Oliver warmed up with for his Cup challenge with three unplaced rides on the Ellerslie undercard, he was making his first riding visit to New Zealand in a decade and the trip paid off.

Anthony Cummings: big win

  PICTURE: AAP Racing  

Zavite, a seven-year-old son of Zabeel arrived at Ellerslie off the back of a victory over 1m4f at Moonee Valley, although he had not scored in Pattern company since taking the Group 2 Adelaide Cup a year ago.

"I left the riding decisions to Damien," Cummings said. "He played a waiting game. He helped him [Zavite] carry the weight and made the right move coming towards the turn. I don't try and beat New Zealand-bred horses - I just get in with them!"

A maximum field of 18 for the Cup meant pace was never likely to be lacking and Tinseltown took the field through the early stages, with the 99-1 outsider Grand Affair soon working his way to the lead.

Oliver opted to anchor Zavite, sent off at just under 4-1, towards the rear, but with 4f to run, the pair began their move and the winner shot clear to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Booming finished second, while Tin Goose, who only made the cut when the strongly fancied Passchendaele was withdrawn with a leg injury, produced a great run to finish third. Spin Around was fourth.