Muscle Mountain’s push towards immortality
Garrick Knight - Raceform • January 29th, 2026 1:24 PM • 4 min read
There’s more than just a $22,000 winning stake on the line for Muscle Mountain at Addington on Friday night.
The veteran square-gaiter will go around as favourite in the $40,000 Gr.3 Summer Trotting FFA in what is his return to racing after a Christmas freshen-up. He’ll be aiming for a fourth win the race after victories in 2021, 2022 and 2023, to go with a third placing last year.
But more importantly, Muscle Mountain needs one more win to reach 40 New Zealand victories. Doing so would take him to outright second among New Zealand trotters – likely of all time, but definitely in the period of HRNZ’s online records, which now extend back to the 1950s.
Only the Kumeu iron horse of the 1980s and 90s, Idle Scott, has more as a trotter with 45 domestic wins. Currently, Muscle Mountain is equal second on 39 with Sir Castleton, who won both the Inter Dominion Grand Final and Rowe Cup in the early 1980s.
For his co-trainer and driver Ben Hope, the nine-year-old potentially setting a new high mark gives him and training partner father Greg something to focus on this year.
“It would be awesome if we could get there,” he told RaceForm. “There is a lot of water to go under the bridge, but to even be in the conversation is a huge tip of the cap to him and everything he has achieved.”
Hope accepts that Muscle Mountain isn’t the warrior he once was, but thinks there is plenty of life in his legs yet.
“We are at the stage now where we have to be a bit more careful where we go with him. The 1980-metre mobile on Friday night suits him down to the ground though – he really gets into it well.
“He was probably down a notch on his best in his last couple of runs before Christmas – he had a pretty tough Cup Week, and it took a little bit out of him. He’s had a freshen up and is in a really good place at the moment.”
Stablemate Midnight Dash was a last-start winner of the Central Otago Trotting Cup (Click to watch the full race replay) on January 2 and that form will put him in good stead this week.
“Eurostyle is going to be the hardest to beat, but we are very happy with both of our boys heading into the race.
“I think you really have to respect Muscle Mountain’s gate speed and his record in this race. If we could win it a fourth time, that would mean a lot.”
The stable has five others in on Friday night and Hope gave a strong push for Mavis Jones in the $18,5000 Aldebaran Park Handicap Trot, which she tackles alongside stablemate Love Walked In.
“I honestly think if I can get Mavis Jones away, she’s a super chance. Her run the first day at Nelson was excellent, then she got checked the second day. Last time at Addington she felt super in the warm-up, but then missed away.”
Makaku is a newcomer from the North Island that was sent down by former trainer Arna Donnelly for beach training and regular left-handed racing.
“We are still learning about him, but he feels like the type of horse with the ability to win a couple pretty quickly.”
Footnote: Most NZ wins by trotters (per HRNZ): Idle Scott (45), Muscle Mountain (39), Sir Castleton (39), Tussle (36), Easton Light (36).
CLICK HERE to subscribe to RaceForm and get your copy delivered each week.
