HRV REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO TROTTING Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) wishes to respond to articles relating to Harness Racing Australia’s (HRA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Hobart on Monday, October 18, where it was voted to discontinue the Inter Dominion Trotting Championships from 2013. HRV Chairman, Ken Latta said: “I am disappointed with the decision, however it’s important that HRV puts on public record that our commitment to trotting will not diminish. In fact, it is HRV’s view that international interest and support for trotting in Australia is growing and this must be encouraged. “Therefore, in the …
OK Courage resumes in workout
OK COURAGE 3RD IN ADDINGTON WORKOUT OK Courage, unraced since being pulled up at Rangiora on May 9, is being aimed at a $35,000 3-win mobile 2600m pace at Addington on NZ Cup day after his sound third when resuming at the Addington workouts on Monday, October 18. Now five, the Courage Under Fire gelding has the impressive overall record of nine wins and five placings from 21 starts for $81,246 in stakes. OK Courage showed good stamina over the mobile 2600m at Addington in April last year, winning a junior drivers mobile 2600m pace in the hands of Dexter …
Basshunter tops RTR sale
BASSHUNTER TOPS RTR SALE Basshunter, who trialled over 800m in 55.6s and his final 400m in 26.1s at Ashburton last month, fetched the top price of $90,000 at PGG Wrightson’s Ready To Run 2YO Sale in Christchurch on Wednesday, October 13. The Mach Three colt, a half-brother to nine winners including The Pukekohe Pirate (1:56.2h, US), The Millionairness (1:56m, US) and The Pukekohe Panther (1:55.4f, US), was knocked down to Australia buyer, Dean Shannon of Montana Park P/L. Burnham trainer Mark Jones purchased Falcalla, a Falcon Seelster colt from the same family as former big-winning pacers Margaret Shannon (43 …
NZ Metro TC stakes schedule
NZ METRO TC NEW STAKES SCHEDULE The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) announced on Friday, September 17, a range of enhancements to its basic stakes structure, commencing from October 1, 2010. Under the revised stakes structure, a different basic stake level will apply depending on which day of the week an NZMTC meeting is conducted. Headlining the announcement is basic stakes for the majority of Friday night NZMTC meetings will increase to $10,000, under the revised structure. Saturday night meetings will carry a basic stake of $8000, while basic stake levels for Thursday Nights will be set at $7000. …
Inter-Final on Friday April 8
2011 Inter Dominion Grand Final Date Change The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) have announced a change in date for the 2011 Christchurch Casino Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting. Originally scheduled to be conducted on Saturday Night 9 April 2011, the Inter Dominion Grand Final meeting will now be conducted at Addington on Friday night, April 8, 2011. The change in date has been necessitated by the recent release of the Super 15 Rugby Draw. On Saturday night, April 9, the same night originally set down for the Inter Dominion Grand Finals, the Canterbury Crusaders are drawn to play …
Yearling sales entries complete
BIG FOUR SIRES DOMINATE SALES ENTRIES A total of 322 combined entries by top four sires _ Bettor’s Delight, Mach Three, Christian Cullen and Art Major _ will provide the main nucleus for purchasers at the February 2011 Yearling Sales in Auckland and Christchurch. The Australasian Classic Sale at Karaka (Saturday, February 19) has attracted 184 entries, up 11 from last year, and includes 20 from South Island vendors. PGG Wrightson representative Rachel Deegan (pictured right) has advised this will be the first year the Premier Sale in Christchurch (February 21-23) has been fully selected over the three days. Day …
NZ Cup noms close
MY MAN DAN AMONG NZ CUP NOMS Quality and depth are the two shining characteristics of the nominations for the 2010 Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup to be run at Addington on November 9. Though the club has received 32 nominations this year. Among the marquee nominations are last year’s winner Monkey King, the only other horse guaranteed a Cup start at this point, Stunin Cullen, and a raft of internationally performed pacers including Bettor’s Strike, Bondy, Kiwi Ingenuity, Power Of Tara and Tintin In America. Australians are staging another assault on the great race too. Smoken Up is back …
Supreme Christian seizes 2nd chance
SACKED AT TWO, NOW A SUPREME TURNAROUND Burnham trainer Mark Jones edged a step closer to the training century when Supreme Christian led over the last 1400m for driver Regan Todd at the Forbury Park Tuesday meeting on September 28. Mark, in only his 4th season as a public trainer, advanced to 97 career NZ training wins with the victory. The Tuesday win was Mark’s seventh training win for the new term, putting him only one behind former employer Cran Dalgety, and cousin Tim Butt, on the early premiership table. Mark kept his driving total ticking over with a well-timed …
Supreme Gem promising maiden
DAUGHTER OF FLYING SANDS WINTON-BOUND Supreme Gem, the first foal from speedy racemare Flying Sands (11 wins, 1:56.5 mile rate, 1950m), will be aimed at a maiden mile at Winton next month after clearing out at the Rangiora workouts on Saturday, September 25. Mark recalled he was bidding for the Christian Cullen filly to help the vendor at the yearling sale when he ended up with the winning bid. “I was bidding for Vicki Cowan at the yearling sales. She said if I go to 60 she’d buy her back. I got caught on a $60,000 bid. When I …
Shezoneoftheboyz in Victoria
NZ TROT DERBY WINNER IN VICTORIA Shezoneoftheboyz, last season’s NZ Trotting Derby winner for Burnham trainer Mark Jones, will be based in Victoria for most of her 4YO racing. “She’ll do a bit of racing for Craig Demmler,” Mark said. “Owner Peter Chambers is a man of his word and he always said she was to race in Australia this season.” “I was lucky to have her as long as I did. She may come back over for the 4YO Jewels but we’ll just wait and see.” “Craig said she was super when she arrived.” The younger half-sister by Brylin …