Alta Meteor (NZ) Claims Back to Back Group Features

Alta Meteor (NZ) (Art Major) again showed all of his outstanding attributes in his powerful victory in the $56,000 Group Two Coca-Cola Superstars Championship (2600m) at Addington on Friday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate put his versatility on display when winning his second Group event in less than a week at Canterbury’s premier harness racing venue.

Alta Meteor was secured for $25,000 by Stonewall Stud when he was offered by Alabar at the 2020 All Age Sale.

Driver Jonny Cox used different tactics than those that helped Alta Meteor win the Group Three Autumn Free-For-All (1980m) at Addington just six days prior.

“Last week gave the horse and driver a bit of confidence, I thought we’d try something different tonight,” Cox said.

The four-year-old pressed forward early and worked to the lead before Cox settled the classy pacer into the trail.

That early work took nothing away from Alta Meteor as he sprinted brilliantly along the inner to head another quinella with his stablemate and fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Ohoka Connor (NZ) (Sunshine Beach).

“I thought if we followed the right horse he’d take us a long way,” Cox said.

“Connor was sitting up doing all the work, we were getting that cushy run and it probably made all the difference in the end.”

Ohoka Connor lost no admirers and continued his excellent form with his fighting second behind his stablemate from the Steve and Amanda Telfer stable.

The star stablemates also filled the quinella in the same order in the Group Three Autumn Free-For-All (1980m), recently.

With his outstanding victory, Alta Meteor put his name alongside the outstanding New Zealand pacers who have won the Group Two Superstars Championships.

From Lazarus (NZ) and Field Marshal (NZ) to Christen Me (NZ), Mainland Banner (NZ) and Christian Cullen (NZ) the Superstars Championship’s history books are lined with the names of the most brilliant horses.