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Live sport on SN this weekendThe Hangover ready to spark further celebrations
Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 17th, 2026 2:25 pm
The Hangover will contest Sunday’s Oamaru Cup (1400m) | Photo: Monica Toretto
It may have taken a while, but The Hangover is now at the top of his game, and he promises to again be a major player in Sunday’s Oamaru Cup (1400m).
The son of Zacinto will head a strong line-up for trainer Robert Dennis when the gelding fronts up in the Crombie & Prince Ltd-sponsored event, while stablemate Sir Sterling also looms as a leading hope in the Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate Trophy (1200m).
The Hangover has been successful in two of his last three starts and will strike the winter going he is so effective on.
“He’s probably in the form of his life as a rising eight-year-old, but he has found himself in the right races to get those two wins,” Dennis said.
“They were in a Rating 75 and an 80 where he got in with competitive weights and in between, he ran in a stronger open and did what he always does, run a good race and finished in the top four.
“This is a stronger open, but he’s certainly full of confidence and has gone the right way, he gets in with 54kg and I think he’s a good chance.”
Lightly raced for his age, The Hangover has fashioned the tidy record of five wins and a further 11 minor placings from 29 appearances.
“He is very consistent and rarely misses the top four on a heavy track,” Dennis said.
“He’s been a slow maturer and never really handled too much racing, but he seems to be taking it much better now.”
Victory on Sunday would press The Hangover’s claims for a crack at the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) with the Riccarton feature already on last-start Waimate Cup (1600m) runner-up Sir Stirling’s radar.
“I’d probably say the best he’s gone for us was last time, it was a massive effort,” Dennis said.
“He was three wide and working hard and was only beaten by Tumuch in the last few strides and he’s one of the better horses in the South Island when he’s right.
“We’re dropping him back to 1200m and one or two are maybe too sharp for him, but after such a tough run last time we wanted to freshen him and hopefully build into the Winter Cup. If The Hangover came out and won on Sunday then we’d have to look at that as well for him.”
On the undercard, Dennis also likes the chances of last-start winner Taihoro in the Chris Johnson & Noel Harris (1600m).
“We’ve always thought a bit of him, I don’t know if it’s a terribly strong Rating 65 to be stepping into out of maidens,” he said.
“He’s won the course and is up to a mile, which should suit him.”
Lethal Rock and Magnastar also give the stable a competitive hand in the Dave Allan Memorial (1200m).
The former was a dominant last-start winner at Oamaru while Magnastar finished runner-up at Wingatui three runs back and has since finished in behind the major players.
“Lethal Roc has done nothing wrong in her career, she put them away last time and looks fantastic,” Dennis said.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her put in another bold run if she handles the track and Magnastar likes the course and he does love a heavy, testing track.”
