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Wellington Cup tilt in the offing for Mayor Of Norwood
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk ⹠ November 28th, 2025 11:37 am
Mayor Of Norwood will contest Sundayâs Happy hire Cromwell Cup (2030m) | Photo: Race Images South
Wingatui trainers Brian and Shane Anderton will head to Cromwell on Sunday with a strong hand, led by Mayor Of Norwood who will attempt to seal his berth north to contest Januaryâs Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham.
The six-win gelding finished fifth first-up over 1400m at his home track earlier this month and his handlers have been pleased with his progression heading into Sundayâs Happy hire Cromwell Cup (2030m).
He has been lumbered with top weight of 61kg but will get some weight relief courtesy of apprentice jockey Triston Moodleyâs 1kg claim.
âHe has come through his race well,â Brian Anderton said. âWe have got to be a bit careful with him, he is getting to a dangerous place in the weights.
âOur ambition is to have a go at the Wellington Cup, so hopefully he comes through everything alright.â
Stablemate Capo Dell Impero is also set to carry 60kg in the KB Contractors Open 1400, 5kg more than is closest rival.
Lugging big weights is nothing new to the eight-year-old gelding, who carried the same impost when runner-up first-up over 1400m at Wingatui earlier this month, and his trainers are hoping he can go one better on Sunday.
âHe has come through it well and hopefully the 1400m wonât be too short for him,â Anderton said.
All going to plan after Sunday, the son of Ghibellines will be targeted towards a pre-Christmas assignment on his home track.
âHe is getting at the stage where he is hard to place but there is a mile here in the December meeting, so we will probably look at that with him,â Anderton said.
The stable will have a three-pronged attack in the Otago Engineering (1400m) courtesy of the in-form No Party, Move On and Afire.
Proisir gelding No Party has won both of his starts this preparation, while Move On has finished runner-up in her last two outings and Afire was victorious at her last start, and Anderton is hoping for more of the same from the trio.
âNo Party has continued to do well,â he said. âHe has had a nice time between each start and we are looking for a good run from him.
âI am just worried the track might be a bit tight for Move On. âShe is (rating) 75 and is going to be in with the big boys if she wins that, but we have got to give it a go.
âAfire is aiming to go further, we think that she is a staying type of filly.â
The stable will also be represented by Elusive in the Magpie Scaffolding Maiden (1400m) and the in-foal Helldancer in the Positive Signs + Print (1220m).
âElusive is not far away,â Anderton said. âHelldancer was very disappointing at Riccarton first-up and she is scanned in-foal to Alflaila.â
