LANG PLOTS CELEBRATION Every Seelite Windows & Doors Redwood Classic is special, but Sunday’s 2010 edition at Maryborough is particularly significant given it will be the 25th running of the iconic event. And no driver rises to the occasion better when the famed race for two-year-old trotters reaches a milestone than Gavin Lang. The champion Melton horseman won the inaugural Redwood in 1986 aboard Young Trouper and saluted again with Andandon when it celebrated its 15th edition. Lang will be out to keep the trend going when he partners Chateau De Ville in Sunday’s $50,000 Group 1. The …
Victtoria maintain stakes next season
HRV MAINTAINS STAKE LEVELS Despite the uncertainty surrounding the racing industry’s wagering revenue, the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Board has determined that 2009/10 stakemoney levels will be maintained for the 2010/11 season. However, the Board has determined that the profile of stakemoney will change. Within the stakemoney total of $33.6m, a reallocation of the mix will take place as follows: • Stakemoney for Saturday night career-front racing will increase from $5000 to aminimum of $7000 with effect from November 1, 2010 • The SEW-Eurodrive Victoria Cup will increase by $25,000 to $425,000 • The BIG6 Hunter Cup will increase …
Rostevarren upsets Kahdon
ROSTEVARREN UPSETS KAHDON Rostevarren utlised the sprint lane to catch $1.40 favourite Kahdon in the shadows of the post in the first $10,000 Seelite Windows & Doors Victoria Trotters Derby Heat at Bendigo on Saturday, July 3. Kahdon was taken on for the lead early by Razor Face (Michael Marais), who later broke and finished last. The Sundon filly made a good fist of leading virtually all of the way for trainer-driver Mark Jones and will improve with the race _ her first since winning the Victoria Trot Oaks on June 11. However, Rostevarren , a gelded son of Band …
Vict Trot Derby field taking shape
VICT TROTTERS DERBY TAKING SHAPE This year’s Seelite Windows and Doors Victoria Trotters Derby will take further shape on Wednesday night, July 7, when the second heat is run at Geelong. The $10,000 event showcases the Australian debut of high-profile Kiwi blueblood Miami H, who crosses the Tasman a winner of five of 12 starts, the latest a Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown heat at Auckland on June 22. The Derek Balle-trained colt, a son of boom stallion Muscles Yankee and former gun mare Martina H, is a leading contender for the $75,000 Group 1 final, but will be tested by some …
Ricky on Jackaroozy
RICKY ON JACKAROOZY Burnham trainer Mark Jones has picked a driver to suit the diminuitive but competitive Jackaroozy when he shoots for back-to-back Forbury Park wins on Friday, July 2. “Ricky (May) is going to drive him and being the size he is, he should suit the horse,” Mark said. Mark is heading to Melbourne on Friday to drive top 3YO trotter Kahdon in a heat of the Victoria Trotting Derby on Saturday night. “I couldn’t get a flight over on Saturday, so I’m going Friday. Ricky can also drive San Fran Lady at Forbury. The boys here can look …
Ruggari wary in Trot Derby Heat
RUGGARI NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT My High Expectations comes up against Kiwi raider Kahdon in a heat of the Victoria Trotters Derby at Bendigo this Saturday night, with trainer-driver Adam Ruggari expecting the run to provide a significant insight into whether he is a contender for the final. Joining the New South Wales youngster in the first of three Derby qualifiers are arguably the series’ top two seeds – boom Kiwi filly Kahdon and established local star Rostevarren. “They’re probably the two best in it, so we’ll find out how good our guy is,” said Ruggari, who hails from Swayers Gully, west …
Kahdon draws ace in Derby heat
KAHDON MOST TIGHTLY-ASSESSED IN FIELD Kahdon has drawn the ace barrier in the $A10,000 Seelite Window & Doors Victoria Trotters Derby Heat at Bendigo on Saturday night. The Kiwi-trained Sundon filly is the most tightly assessed 3YO in the field with 6 wins. Rostevarren (5) and My High Expectations (4) are the next best winning squaregaiters in the field. The field is: 10pm (NZ time) SEELITE WINDOWS & DOORS VICTORIA TROTTERS DERBY (HEAT ONE) $10,000, mobile 2650m 1 21121 Kahdon 1 fr M Jones 2 3276 Miss Bullion 2 fr Chris Lang 3 58276 Razor Face 3 fr Michael Marais …
Kahdon smashes them
KAHDON SMASHES THEM Several boom Kiwi trotters have crossed the Tasman in recent years and not lived up to the hype, but Kahdon spared herself a spot on that list with a stunning win in the Group 1 Dallas Building Victoria Trotters Oaks at Melton on Friday, June 11. The impressive filly proved a class above a team of rivals that included Group 1-winning locals Good Thanks and Elusive Charm in the $A50,000 event at Melton’s Tabcorp Park. She made it 6 wins and 4 minor placings from 13 starts. The Sundon filly had won the time-honoured Northern Trotting …
New harness magazine
THE HARNESS EDGE DOWNUNDER COMING IN AUGUST The harness racing industry in Australia and New Zealand is getting a new publication – The Harness Edge Downunder. The Harness Edge magazine based in Canada is launching a quarterly, online edition for the southern hemisphere. The publication will be focused on the racing industry in Australasia bringing with it the foremost publishing technology available. “One year ago The Harness Edge became an online only publication free to the world. The availability of new technology and the simple economics of the racing industry led to the move which resulted in substantial cost savings …
Stallion Station releases Courage fee
STALLION STATION CONFIRM COURAGE DEAL Stallion Station, one of Australasia’s premier breeding establishments, have confirmed they have secured the ownership of the former champion racehorse and now highly successful sire Courage Under Fire. Burnham trainer Mark Jones has had regular success with the stock of Courage Under Fire, developing many by the former 6-time Derby winner for Courage Under Fire’s former Queensland owner Greg Brodie. For the 2010-11 breeding season, Courage Under Fire only frozen semen will be available to New Zealand breeders at a service fee of $NZ 7000 (plus GST). However, for this season only breeders can secure …