Latest News

QUALIFIER MAY GO NORTH NEXT MONTH

Glenferrie Magic is likely to be aimed at the Group One $110,000 Caduceus Club Fillies Classic at Auckland on March 18, following an impressive first-up qualifying run at the Addington trials on Tuesday, February 15.

“She’s paid up for it so we may as well have a go,” said Burnham trainer Mark Jones.

“She has always been alright from day one. There’s going to be a heap of improvement in her.”

Driver Regan Todd trailed with Glenferrie Magic until nearing the final 800m when he let her roll to the front.

Glenferrie Magic picked up the speed over the leaders final 800m in a swift 57.1s, pacing the full mobile 2000m in 2:31.8 (2:02.1 mile rate).

The daughter of P-Forty-Seven, bred by Platinum Breeding, was purchased by major Australian investor Peter Chambers, last August.

Glenferrie Magic is the first foal from Time Flies (In The Pocket-T K Swift), who won a 2YO fillies pace at Addington in 2002 for Malcolm and Ian Shinn, defeating River Valley Belle and Champagne Princess.

She won two-lead up races at Auckland and Cambridge then ran fifth in Lombo La Fe Fe’s 2002 Great Northern Oaks before taking out a Nevele R Fillies Heat at Marlborough in 1:58.4 (mile).

Time Flies was exported to North America and Canada from that point where she did a big job, taking a 1:52 mile mark and winning a further 32 races. She retired with lifetime earnings of $624,230.

Glenferrie Magic is closely-related to former NZ Kingergarten Stakes winner Flak Jacket (1:54, US), Slybye (1:52.4h, US, 23 Australasian wins), El Cabalero (1:54.4, US, 5 NZ wins), Cee Eye Sly (11 Aust wins), Ulitmate Pursuit (1:51.6, US, 6 NZ wins and over $US151,000), Cee Eye Bee (7 NZ wins) and Crafty Kobba (10 wins including a Forbury 4YO Championship).

The Overport Lodge team were also to the fore in the first Addington 2YO fillies trial with the Greg Brodie-owned Courage Under Fire fillies, Holme Fire (from Northern Franco) and Rose Fire (from Zara Rose).

Holme Fire, a sister to open class pacer Pembrook Benny, driven by Scott Stewart, finished best with a marker run from four back to win by half a neck in 2:34.3 (2:04.1 mile rate), the leaders last 800m in 60.4s and final 400m in 29.4s.

The Secret, who trailed, finished second, just ahead of Rose Fire, who peeled wide from three back on the corner and was a close-up third a head away, going 2:34.3.

Juvenile trotter Beau Brummell again gained some good experience, trailing up and running a sound second to Love You filly Topnotch Jewel in Tuesday’s 2YO mobile trot.

Topnotch Jewel, trained by Jamie Gameson, led and held by 1 1/2 lengths in 2:37.3 for the 2000m, the last 800m in 62s and final 400m in 30.8s.

Gee That’s Courage, an unraced Greg Brodie-owned 3YO Courage Under Fire colt, backed up a strong-finishing second at the Ashburton trials a week ago with a well-timed finish to win a maiden mobile 1950m trial at Addington.

Driven by Scott Stewart, Gee That’s Courage settled back and unwound well wide to run down pacemaking Parfait Bromac by three-quarters of a length.

Gee That’s Courage ran the mobile 2000m in 2:25.7 (2:00.2 mile rate), the leaders running their last 800m in 58.1s and final 400m in 30s.

By Jeff Scott

ALEX NOSE 2ND IN QUALIFIER

Burnham trainer Mark Jones is considering taking Alexis’ brother Alex south for a 2YO race in two weeks time.

Alex, a compact gelded son of Courage Under Fire and Alegria, set up a solid pace in the second 2YO colts and geldings mobile mile at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday, February 8.

After being hotly challenged in the run home, he was caught on the line by Jivin Cullen, a big 2YO brother to Joshua Mac (Christian Cullen-Hot Shoe Shuffle colt) in the Robert Dunn stable.

Jivin Cullen paced the 1609m in 2:01.3, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.9s and final 400m in 27.4s.

“Alex is in the next wave of two-year-olds I’ve got coming through,” Mark said.”I’ve also got some fillies getting ready to go (to the trials) next week.”

Alex, bred and owned by Queenslander Greg Brodie, also formerly raced Alexis to place in a NZ Oaks before she was sold to Melbourne owner Peter Chambers.

Subsequently racing in Victoria as Glenferrie Alexis, she has now won 15 of 40 lifetime starts for $178,983 in stakes.

Mark said Atombob, a sound fourth after being a little rocky early in the first 2YO colts and geldings 2YO pace on Tuesday, will come out of Saturday’s $25,000 NZ Sapling Stakes.

Atombob, a McArdle-Tuapeka Melinque gelding, qualified by running 2:01.2 for the 1609m behind Orl Black, Nickel Plated Tabman and Four Needed in the first 2YO colts and geldings mobile pace at Tuesday’s trials. He is on the ballot for the Sapling.

Mark’s first 2YO pacers to race this term, Unique Chance, Texas Terror and Kristoff, have all been freshened.

Meanwile juvenile trotter Beau Brummell surprised Mark with a handy 2YO mobile trot trial win at the Ashburton trials.

The Earl-Lady Boo Kay gelding outfinished the Carl Middleton-trained Trip’s On Me in 2:05.9 for the 1609m, the leaders quickening over their last 800m in 62.5s and closing 400m in 29.5s.

Gee That’s Courage (3c Courage Under Fire-Soky’s Gee), who qualified at Timaru as a late 2YO last July, finished well from the rear for Scott Stewart for a half length second to Magical Molly in a non-win pace.

The Kevin Fairbairn-trained Magical Molly held on to run 3:08.3 for the stand start 2400m, the leaders running their last 800m in 59s.

Unique Attack and Princeton were Mark Jones-trained maidens who ran thirds in their respective mobile 2400m maiden heats on Tuesday, after each tried to lead over the final lap.

The former was outfinished in the run home by Christian Royal and Give Us a Hand in a solid 3:02, the leaders running their last 800m in 59s and final 400m in 27.8s.

Princeton, a Bettor’s Delight half-brother to San Fran Lady and Union Buster, was caught by Ima Dude Too and Walden Bury over the closing stages of his heat in 3:06, the last 800m in 57.1s and final 400m in 27.3s.

By Jeff Scott

SMART PREMIER DAY WIN BY CAPTAIN PEACOCK

Burnham reinsman Mark Jones had no luck with stable runner Lethal Rocket on premier Summer Cup day at Addington, February 5, but  extended his winning association with the smart Dean Taylor-trained pacer Captain Peacock.

Lethal Rocket’s sulky received a punctured tyre during the running of the United Fisheries Ltd _ Southern Blue Whiting Fillets Mobile Pace, but the Jones runner maintained a solid formline by fighting solidly for fifth to front-running winner Franco Jamar.

Two races earlier, Mark drove last season’s NZ Derby winner Captain Peacock confidently for a decisive win in the 3-4 wins Nevele R Stud Mobile Pace _ his 39th driving win for the season.

After easing back to second to last early from a wide gate, Mark sent Captain Peacock forward from the 1500m, taking the lead from Four Starzzz Flash with 1200m to run.

Win favourite Captain Peacock kept up a strong run, kicking clear turning for home, and winning with authority by 2 1/2 lengths from second favourite Four Starzzz Flash, who couldn’t run the winner down.

Third elect Alchemy fought gamely for third after moving up parked outside Captain Peacock beginning the final lap.

Captain Peacock paced a new Addington class record time for a 4-win pacer over the mobile 2600m of 3:10.8 (1:58 mile rate).

This was 1.3 seconds inside the former class record mark.The leaders were timed over their last mile in 1:56.9, the closing 800m in 56.7s and final 400m in 27.3s.

Mark was modest about his part in the win.

“They’re all good drives when they win,” he said.

Captain Peacock, who holds an Inter Dominion nomination but was ranked 54th on the second rankings, will add interest to the 4YO features this season.

The Live Or Die-Enchanting gelding took his earnings past the $200,000 mark with Saturday’s win, his eighth from only 15 starts.

By Jeff Scott

INVERCARGILL HRC PRESIDENT STEPS DOWN

Invercargill trainer and administrator Tom Kilkelly has resigned as president of the Invercargill Harness Racing Club.

Kilkelly had his final day in the role last Saturday, with Peter Robinson taking over as acting president.

He cited “personal reasons” as being behind his decision.

“A couple of years down the track when I’ve got a few things out of the way, I might come back to administration, but for now, I want time for me,” he said.

Tom Kilkelly is in his 10th year as a public trainer and had his biggest win when Shard Ark beat Mach Banner in the 2009 $97,500 NHT 2YO Yearling Sales Open Pace at Auckland

He formerly trained in partnership with Tracey Sherborne last season and also for the first few months of this season.

STUNIN CULLEN RUNS RECORD IN BALLARAT CUP

By Jason Bonnington

Electric Kiwi pacer Stunin Cullen completed a red-letter night for our trans-Tasman cousins at Bray Raceway, surviving both a courageous compatriot and a lengthy protest hearing to claim the fastest Group 1 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup ever run on Saturday, January 29, 2011.

Easy in betting as a result of his second line draw and the overwhelming consensus that the $A125,000 race belonged to Victorian cult hero Smoken Up, Tim Butt’s striking son was eventually sent out an $8.50 third elect.

But it became all too clear after the 10-strong field had completed the first lap of the 2710-metre mobile feature that the superstar sit-sprinter from Christchurch was going to be the horse to beat.

The major beneficiary of the breakneck speed set up by second favourite Villagem, who careered through a sizzling 79.6-second lead time after becoming fired up when resisting a crack by Justice and Smoken Up to take up the running, Stunin Cullen was sitting pretty toward the rear of the field.

It was from that vantage point that leading Kiwi reinsman Anthony Butt watched and waited while Lisa Miles tried valiantly to hold her Chariots Of Fire champion as he sped through a 29.6-second first fraction before momentarily slackening the pace.

Racing tractably for the first time in the race, Villagem traipsed through a second split of 31.1, but with Smoken Up ready to roll from the chair, the breather would be only a short one.

Flying down Bray Raceway’s back straight the final time, the two leaders were soon joined by Power Of Tara three-wide, with Stunin Cullen beautifully steered onto that horse’s back through a 28.9-second third section and ready to pounce.

Finishing in a final fraction of 28.4 to complete the breathtaking 1:57.3 mile rate, which slashed an entire second off Safari’s previous Ballarat benchmark, Stunin Cullen and Power Of Tara engaged in an enthralling two horse war all the way down the lane, with the former only prevailing in the shadows of the post.

At the finish, the margin was just a head, with Village Of Dreams overcoming a chequered passage in the straight to grab third; and despite enduring a 15-minute protest following the race, team Butt and their gun young pacer retained the prize, much to driver Anthony’s relief.

“It was all my fault, it was down to me, I just forgot about the local whip rules, so I’m glad it didn’t cost us the race,” he said.

“But I’m super pleased for the horse, he really deserved this win. He’s been flying of late and when the speed went on from the start and we were able to find Power Of Tara’s back, I knew he’d come home strong.

“It’ll be a different race next week in the Hunter Cup./ Power Of Tara will be tough to get past again and Im Themightyquinn is going great guns, but this horse is very capable on his day as he showed tonight and now we’re just crossing our fingers for a good draw.”

The barrier draw for the Group 1 $425,000 BIG6 Hunter Cup, in which Stunin Cullen looms as a major player, will be held at the Docklands on Tuesday afternoon in conjunction with draws for the Alabar Victoria Derby and SEW-Eurodrive Australasian Trotting Grand Prix.

DEFENDING CHAMP TOO OLD FOR SERIES

This week HRNZ decided the only just course of action was to give another New Zealand driver an opportunity to compete and win on the international stage.

HRNZ CEO, Edward Rennell, was pleasantly surprised by the news coming from Australia. “This is a chance for another of our promising young drivers to further themselves and give New Zealand a strong chance of a win in the championship.”

“Having four New Zealand drivers in championship will also help with the local promotion of the event and the ability to generate full fields for the championship heats.”

As it stands New Zealand has three representatives for the Championship. They will be the top points scorers in the North and South Island Junior Driver competitions and the national UDR champion, provided he/she has had at least 15 drives in junior driver races.

The fourth driver will be found from the Junior Drivers Premiership. At this stage Matthew Williamson looks like being that lucky fourth driver, depending on how the points and UDR competitions finish in the Junior Drivers Championship, which concludes on February 28.

Courtesy of Andrew Morris, HRNZ.