Australian reinswoman Kerryn Manning has followed Michelle Payne into racing's history books, becoming the first female driver to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

A week after Payne and Prince Of Penzance shocked Australian racing with their 100-1 Melbourne Cup win, Manning claimed New Zealand's most coveted pacing trophy with an all-the-way victory on Arden Rooney.

Manning has driven more than 3500 winners, but none have been as important as her triumph in front of a massive crowd at Christchurch's Addington Raceway on Tuesday.

"This is the greatest win of my career," Manning said.

"I remember watching this race as a young child thinking how great it would be to win and now the dream has been fulfilled."

Manning took on the might of New Zealand's biggest harness racing stables over the marathon 3200m and Arden Rooney did the rest after stepping away safely from a standing start.

Arden Rooney beat the Mark Purdon-trained Smolda with Mossdale Connor finishing third.

Manning has long been a dominant figure in Australian harness racing.

She was the first driver to win 300 races in a season in Australia or New Zealand as well as being the first woman to drive a winner in the southern and northern hemispheres.

Manning's New Zealand Cup triumph was her 41st at Group One level.

Arden Rooney's win also ended a 28-year New Zealand Cup drought for Australian-trained pacers.