The better pacing ranks in Canterbury took a hit last week with three talented horses departing for America.

The trio – Tiger Thompson, Cole Porter and Don Domingo – were all Country Cup winners last season and will leave a hole in the ranks that were at times wafer-thin.

They all departed Auckland on Friday morning and arrived in New York, via Sydney, China and Alaska, on Monday afternoon (NZ time).

Tiger Thompson and Cole Porter are both headed to Delaware, the same connections that purchased Tiger Thompson’s stablemate, Delishka, back in May.

Cole Porter won the Nelson Winter Cup in June when just a three-year-old for trainer Geoff Dunn and heads to America with four victories under his belt from just 13 starts.

Tiger Thompson was a highly-regarded three-year-old for Brad Mowbray but couldn’t quite match it with his peers last season.

Even so, the noted speedster managed to win the Central Otago Cup at Omakau and place in the Group 1 Easter Cup behind A G’s White Socks.

Don Domingo won seven races for Ken Barron, including last season’s Cheviot Cup and Oamaru Cup.