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JODY JAMIESON WINS 2011 WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2011 World Driving Champion was decided at Yonkers Raceway in New York on Saturday, August 6 (NZ time), with the night belonging to Canadian Jody Jamieson.

Jamieson won three at the Meadowlands on Friday (NZ time), and another two at Yonkers on the final day, to claim the win with a race to go in the final round of heats.

The first race went the way of Corey Callahan, making it the third time in this series he has kicked of the round with a win. Driving Mojarra Hanover, he took the lead early and never looked back.

Although a close finish after Franck Nivard challenged Callahan to the line, the local driver was able to hold out the Frenchman to gain 17 points. In third place was Enrico Bellei with Celtic Danser.

With an eighth placing, Dexter Dunn slipped back into fourth position while Jamieson maintained his series lead despite breaking and crossing the line last.

The second heat saw Dunn gain 12 valuable points with a second placing behind the series leader, Jamieson.

Driving My Man Ben, Dunn shot from the gate to gain an early lead before moving into the trail behind Nivard and Lukes Raoule.

As they turned off the back for the final time, Jamieson came flying around the field with Strong Hall. Dunn chased hard, finishing second in front of Nivard.

“He trotted great to the line. However this is a game of highs and lows; I was devastated after the first heat, but am on such a high again,” Jamieson said after his win.

The Canadian maintained a 12-point series lead over Juan Riera Rossello heading into the third heat of the night.

Jamieson was back in the winners’ circle after heat three with a win behind race favourite, Sun Of A Victory.

The trotter skipped a little on the gate before charging ahead to take the lead from Nivard with Reigning Dough.

From here it was all Jamieson as he claimed his fifth win of the series and the Championship with one race to go.

“He’s an incredible trotter. The pace was slow up front, so I kept him going”, Jamieson said of the race.

When asked about his position in the series he replied “I’m buzzing and really looking forward to the one more race.”

Dunn’s runner Great Emancipator galloped at the gate, however was soon down and trotting again with Dunn gaining the one-one.

However as he set off three-wide, the four-year-old galloped again and eventually placing sixth.

The fourth race went to Sweden’s Bjorn Goop with Summer Snow. After sitting in the trail behind Callahan and Winbak Delight, he pushed outside of the USA representative to win maximum points.

However it was Jamieson’s night. The 2001 winner was “pumped to be World Champion. I couldn’t be prouder and am on an extreme high.”

(This was Jamieson’s second World Driving Championship title, having previously won the 2001 series).

USA’s Callahan finished in second ahead of Spain’s Juan Riera Rossello with Dunn fourth.

However that did not take away the experience the 21-year-old is having in the USA.

“Tonight came down to horsepower and I gave them all a good trip. But I’m proud to have been here representing NZ. Meeting the drivers has been the best thing and all the experiences I am having over here.“

Asked his next move from here, Dunn said: “I might stay on here a little bit longer, but I am looking forward to coming home. I will definitely be home by Cup Week, but at this stage I am still unsure as to what will happen next week.”

Final Points:

1. Jody Jamieson (Canada) 159
2. Corey Callahan (USA) 153
3. Juan Antonio Riera Rossello (Spain) 151
4. Dexter Dunn (New Zealand) 143
5. Björn Goop (Sweden) 133
6. Birger Jørgensen (Denmark) 131
7. Franck Nivard (France) 112
8. Enrico Bellei (Italy) 110
9. Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 93
10. Chris Lewis (Australia) 91.

Courtesy of Brooke Henderson, HRNZ

NZ METRO TC ANN0UNCE STAKE ENHANCEMENTS

The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) have announced a range of enhancements to its basic stakes structure, commencing from Friday August 26.

Basic stakes will increase handsomely at Friday night fixtures.

Three-win and faster races will carry a stake of $12,500, with 1-2 win front races to be run for $10,000 and maidens for $8000.

“This represents a significant increase in basic stake levels at our Friday night fixtures,” said Addington Raceay CEO Shane Gloury.

“This basic stakes structure wil apply to all of our Friday night meetings, except for October 21, which will take a back seat to the Super Feature Flying Stakes meeting at Ashburton (three days later) and our November 18 meeting, which is only one week after our NZ Cup carnival.”

The stakes enhancements have been made possible from improved trading results for the Club and from a change in stakemoney structure at Addington Premier meetings.

For Premier meetings at Addington, 3-win and faster races will be worth $12,500, while 1-2 win front races will be conducted for $10,000.

Minimum stake levels on Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup Day will be $20,000, while Lindauer Raceday (Show Day) will carry minimum basic stake levels of $15,000.

The NZMTC will conduct four Thursday night fixtures this season. The stakes for these meetings will range from $7000 for maidens through to $8000 for 2-win and faster aces.

Two Saturday night meetins will be conducted as part of the continuation of the Saturday night trial in October and December. Stakes levels on these meetings will be in line with Thursday night levels.

Stakes for Tuesday graduation races will remain at $3000, while all non-premier and non-Tuesday meetings will continue to have one $5000 race programmed to cater for horse population and budgetary requirements.

Penalty free races when conducted on Thursday and Friday meetings will also carry a lesser stake due to their penalty-free nature.

NZMTC Chief Executive Shane Gloury believes the stakemoney enhancements will be extremely well received by industry participants.

“Our Club is conscious of the need to provide healthy basic stake levels in the lower classes for the majority of horses, owners and trainers,” he said.

“Under the revised structure there will be 25 racemeetings at Addington during the season where 1 and 2 win horses will be able to race for a minimum stake of $10,000, where 3-win and faster horses will be able to race for a minimum stake of $12,500.”

“Despite turnover reductions throughout the industry in recent years, our Club has been proactive in pursuing initiatives to grow revenues and to drive efficiencies throughout our business in challenging times.”

“It is pleasing that these initiatives have started to pay dividends for the benefit of our stakeholders,” said Gloury.

Prominent Canterbury-based trainer and driver Mark Jones echoed the sentiments expressed by Gloury.

“This is a very pleasing outcome for harness racing participants in Canterbury and the South Island,” Jones said.

“It is great that owneres and trainers will be able to race for healthy stake levels throughout their entire season at Addington. I commend the Club on their hard work and their initiatives that have led to this result.”

An announcement on feature race stakes for 2011-12 at Addington Raceway will be made by the NZMTC within the next week.

Courtesy of Addington Raceway

TINTIN IN AMERICA AT PREBBLETON

One of New Zealand’s fastest pacers, Tintin In America, is to stand at Nevele R Stud this coming breeding season.

The recently retired pacer forged an outstanding record over three seasons of racing, winning at Group One level at two, three and four years of age. The 6yo son of McArdle won five Group One races in total, including two Harness Jewels’ and an Australasian 3YO Breeders Crown Final.

His other Group One victories came in the NZ Sires Stakes 2YO Series Final and the NZ Messenger Championship. All up the former NZ 4YO Pacing Entire of the Year won 16 of his lifetime starts and earned $934,305 in stakes-money.

Tintin In America displayed devastating speed throughout his career, setting four NZ records – two of which still stand; those being the 2YO 1950m – 2:20.5 (MR 1:55.9) and the all-comers 2700m – 3:15.8 (MR 1:56.6).

His first Harness Jewels win as a 3yo also saw him establish a new national record for male pacers of 1:53.2. On another memorable occasion at Cambridge Raceway, early in his 4yo career, he amazed onlookers with a freakish performance off a 30m handicap, unleashing one of the fastest final 200m sectionals ever witnessed at the track to pick up his rivals in the blink of an eye and win going away.

Not surprisingly his trainer Geoff Small rated him as one of the fastest horses that he had ever trained.

Tintin In America ran a superb second as a 4yo to Monkey King in the 2010 Auckland Cup.

He finished his racing career with a flourish, winning at Group level in his last three starts; first defeating boom Aussie raider Bonavista Bay in the Group 1 NZ Messenger Championship, then taking out the Group 3 4YO Kumeu Stakes before ending his 4yo season, and ultimately his career, with victory in the Group 1 Harness Jewels Emerald.

Tintin In America was voted the North Island’s best male age-group pacer as a 2 and 3yo before being crowned the North Island Pacer of the Year as a 4yo in 2010.

Heis the first foal of the four-win In The Pocket mare Zenterfold, whose first three foals are all winners and include a former NZ 2yo record holder in Zenstar (p2, 1:55.8) and the Group 1 placed filly The Blue Lotus. This is also the same maternal family as talented open class pacer Zenad.

Nevele R Stud has indicated Tintin In America has completed fertility tests with excellent results and will stand the 2011-12 season at a fee of $2,250 plus GST and AU$2,475 incl GST.

CARABELLA . . . HARNESS HORSE OF THE YEAR

Carabella became only the third 3YO pacing fillly to be crowned NZ Harness Horse of the Year at the annual awards dinner in Christchurch on Saturday July 23, 2011.

The Brendon “Benny” Hill-trained daughter of Bettor’s Delight and the Artsplace mare Andress Blue Chip joined former stand-outs of her sex, Elect To Love (2002) and Bonnie Frost (1970), as the only fillies to earn the top award.

When Bonnie Frost beat the best there were no individual age group categories.

The only 3YO boys to have taken out the top title have been Garcon Roux (1969), Il Vicolo (1995 and Auckland Reactor (2008).

Former champion pacer Chokin remains the only two-year-old to have impressed judges enough to win the Harness Horse of the Year title at such a precocious age.

Carabella, raced by Cavalla Bloodstock, was dominant racing against her own age group.

She had her colours lowered only once once in 11 starts this season, earning $507,543.

Her only defeat came at Rangiora in March when she raced parked outside Bettor Cover Lover and fought gallantly over an exceptional closing 800m in 54.4s.

She set NZ 3YO filly records for 1950m (2:19.7), 2200m (2:41.1) and 2400m (2:55.8).

Carabella won five Group One races _ the Alabar Sires Stakes Fillies Championship, the Mid Canty Trotting Assn Harness Jewels 3YO Diamond, the Pascoes The Jewellers Northern, and Nevele R Wayne Francis Memorial NZ Oaks and Nevele R Fillies Final.

List of Award winners:

NZ Harness Horse of the Year: CARABELLA 16 Votes

(other nominees, I Can Doosit 9 Gold Ace 4 Smoken Up 4 Monkey King 3 Themightyquinn 2 Stunin Cullen 1).

Individual categories were:

Pacers  

2YO Colt or Gelding of the Year: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE (Mach Three-Three Eagles c; owners: Glenys & Phil Kennard, Neil Pilcher, Gavin Douglas, Philip & Margaret Creighton) 38 votes. (other nominee, Lets Elope, 1 Vote).

2YO Filly of the Year: COWGIRLS N INDIANS (Real Desire-Barn Dance Betty f owners: Ross Johnson, Janene Cole) 26 votes. (other nominees, Dancing Diamonds 11, O Baby 2).

3YO Colt or Gelding of the Year: GOLD ACE (Bettor’s Delight-Hill Of Gold c; owners: Wendy Reid, Derek Moore, Michael Ng, D D Syndicate), 39 votes.

3YO Filly of the Year: CARABELLA (Bettor’s Delight-Andress Blue Chip f; owner: Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd) 39 votes

4YO Entire or Gelding of the Year: FRANCO EMIRATE (Christian Cullen-Elisit Franco g; owner: Russell Nieper) 34 votes. (other nominee, Smiling Shard, 5 votes).

4YO Mare of the Year: DE LOVELY (Falcon Seelster-Copper Beach; owner: Les Girls No 2 Syndicate) 38 votes (other nominee, Lancome 1 vote).

5YO & Older Entire or Gelding of the Year: MONKEY KING (Sands A Flyin- Tuapeka Vale g; owner: Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd). 14 votes (other nominees: Themightyquinn 12, Smoken Up 7, Stunin Cullen 6).

5YO & Older Mare of the Year: BEAUDIENE BAD BABE (Badlands Hanover- Beaudiene Babe m; owner: Estate of Peter Ryan) 34 votes (other nominee, Nearea Franco, 5 votes).

Pacer of the Year: CARABELLA 20 votes (other nomineees, Smoken Up 5, Monkey King & Gold Ace 4, Themightyquinn 3, Stunin Cullen 2, De Lovely 1).

Trotters

2YO Colt or Gelding of the Year: FLYING ISA (Pegasus Spur-Sun Isa; owners: Jocelyn & John Davies, Jonathon Hope, Jennifer Sutherland, Lynda German, Joanne Taylor) 39 votes.

2YO Filly of the Year: ESCAPEE (Sundon-Una Bromac f; owner: Trevor Casey) 22 votes (other nominee, All Shook Up 17).

3YO Colt or Gelding of the Year: PARAMOUNT GEEGEE (Pegasus Spur- Paramount Star; owners: Jocelyn & John Davies, Jonathon Hope, Charles Blackwell, Jennifer Sutherland) 39 votes.

3YO Filly of the Year: DOLLY WOULD (Artsplace-Dixie Darlin f; owner: Martin Herbert) 14 votes. (other nominees, Commander Jewel 13, Kylie Ree 12).

4YO Entire or Gelding of the Year: VULCAN (Earl-Epona; owners: Jenny Butt, Donald McKenzie) 39 votes.

4YO Mare of the Year: LARIX (Safely Kept-Tamarix m; owners: Gay & Nicholas McClymont) 28 votes (other nominees, Jinja Gal & Another Player 5, 1 abstained).

5YO & Older Entire or Gelding of the Year: I CAN DOOSIT (Muscles Yankee- Sheezadoosie; owner: Breckon Racing Syndicate) 38 votes (other nominee, Let Me Thru 1).

5YO & Older Mare of the Year: ANNICKA  (Spotlite Lobell-Arnica; owner: Stall Kullsgarden AB) 20 votes (other nominees, Fayanni 12, Great Getaway 4, Ready Set 2, One Over Kenny 1).

Trotter of the Year: I CAN DOOSIT 36 Votes (other nominee, Paramount Geegee 3).

Other categories:

Breeder of the Year: SPREYDON LODGE

Broodmare of the Year: VICARIO

Stallion of the Year: BETTOR’S DELIGHT

Owner of the Year: CAVALLA BLOODSTOCK LTD

Leading Trainer: MARK PURDON & GRANT PAYNE

Leading Driver/Cruickshank Junior: DEXTER DUNN

Unsung Hero: BARRY JOHNSON

Outstanding Contribution: ROY PURDON

JELLIGNITE BRINGS UP  50 WINS FOR SEASON

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones never envisaged having the horsepower to train 50 winners this term, but Mark and his staff were rewarded for a strong all-round effort to achieve the feat at Rangiora on Saturday, July 16.

Even following Mark’s winter sojourn to France earlier this month, he was doubtful whether they would get the half-century.

“You wonder where they all come from. If you’d said to me at the start of the season we’d get to 50 wins, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said.

A top drive from Regan Todd on capable 3YO Jellignite in the 2-3 wins Olivia, Katie and Tom Dalton Mobile Pace brought up the milestone.

Regan found a good trialing spot on the outer early for Jellignite, then had him on the move to parked when others began to circle beginning the final 800m.

Jellignite kicked away turning for home when favourite Datmymulligan was held up in the trail and dashed clear to win by three lengths in 2:28.6 for the mobile 2000m _ a mile rate of 1:59.5 _ the leaders running their last 800m in 57.4s.

Jellignite and Regan Todd bring up win No. 50 for the Overport Lodge team at Rangiora on Saturday, July 16.

The team have two weeks to equal last term’s seasonal best of 52 training wins.

Maiden placegetters Chloe Finn (second) and Courage Talks (third) on Saturday are chances to add to the total before season’s end.

Saturday’s win also took Mark to 140 career training wins for just over $1.2 million in career training stake-earnings, a satisfying total as he winds up his third season as a public trainer.

Jellignite, a Courage Under Fire-Badjelly The Witch gelding, took his record to five wins and seven placings from 20 starts, for $31,207 in stakes for breeder-owner, Mrs Pat Campbell.

LIVELY EASTBURN 2YO QUALIFIER

Lively Eastburn, who qualified finishing second in a respectable 2:32.6 for the mobile 2000m at Rangiora on Wednesday, July 6, may have only one two-year-old start then be given time to develop.

“This was only his second time off the place,” said trainer Mark Jones.

After trailing Woodlea Legend (2g Grinfromeartoear-Secacus), Lively Eastburn challenged early in the run home and wasn’t extended, being beaten by a length and a half in a 2:02.5 mile rate for the 2000m.

The leaders quickened over their last 800m in 58.5s and final 400m in 28s.

“He went up to win it but blew out the last bit,” said Mark.

“We might give him another trial next week. If he goes alright then we might look for a race then turn him out.”

“He’ll be better with a break. He’s good mannered and be a good maiden for Nelson as he’s owned up there by ‘Skeet’ Barnett.”

Mr Barnett, a successful East Takaka breeder, now 82, bred the Live Or Die gelding from Eastburn Gee (Badlands Hanover-Biddy B B), the winner of six from 35 starts for $41,522.

Lively Eastburn is the first foal from Eastburn Gee, who won her maiden for Dave Anderson, then another five when prepared by Murray Pash.

His grand-dam Biddy B B (Nero’s B B-Eastburn Lass), who has chestnut colouring like Lively Eastburn, won six of only 21 starts for former top trainer John Lischner, and left other good winners in Handoverbid (six NZ wins), Straven (five NZ wins, 1:54.4, US) and Be Artful (three NZ wins, 1:56.5, Aust).

Biddy B B’s dam Eastburn Lass was a half-sister by Noodlum to Mr Barnett’s former top trotter Eastburn Grant (13 wins & $212,995), the 1997 Rowe Cup winner when prepared by John Lischner.