Racing: Monkey King wins NZ Trotting Cup

Favourite Monkey King won the $1 million New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington today, mounting a big late finish in the 3200m race.

The protest siren sounded moments after Monkey King roped in the pace-setting Australian Smoken Up close to home, then held the fast finishing Bettor's Strike off by a neck.

Monkey King posted the second-fastest time in the history of the Christchurch race. Smoken Up, which went clear at the turn, was provisionally third.

The protest was against Bettor's Strike, who may have interfered with second favourite Kiwi Ingenuity at the turn.

Australian pacers Smoken Up and Karloo Mick set much of the early running.

- NZPA