Latest News

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 Group 1 specialist this week recalled how far the Redwood has come since that first edition, which was worth $3500, and expressed his desire to again play a key role in the feature of the weekend’s all-trotting extravaganza.

“Anyone who knows anything about harness racing knows that people with the trotters, more so than the pacers, are pretty passionate about their horses,” Lang said.

“It’s no surprise to me that the Redwood has gone to the level it’s gone to. It’s a special race and it would be great to win it again.”

Lang has given himself every chance to do so, teaming up with Alex Douglas-trained favourite Chateau De Ville in the 2180-metre standing start test.

The son of Conch Deville has been the standout juvenile trotter of the season, counting the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series and Group 2 Tatlow Stakes among four wins from six starts.

Lang, who had his first drive on Chateau De Ville at the gelding’s last-start Vicbred win, will be relying on his charge’s professionalism when he squares up to the inside-back-row draw.

“A front line draw would have been better because then you control your own destiny, but now we’ve just got to stand up and trot away and try and avoid the trouble,” Lang said.

“But he seems a very foolproof horse and in a standing start race, especially for the two-year-old trotters, it’s prudent that they are able to stand and jump and his connections tell me that poses no problem for him.”

Compounding Chateau De Ville’s alley is that the other top hopes for the 2.25pm event all the drew the front line.

Vicbred placegetters Djasker and I See Icy Earl have gates one and five respectively, five-time winner Moyabamba has barrier two with last week’s Maori Legend victor, the Peter Manning-trained, Rheola Gold in four.

MEG’S JOB MADE TOUGHER

Western Australian trainer Greg Bond has turned to the right man in his search for a stand-in driver for Millwood Meg in Friday night’s $A75,000 Group 1 Nevele R Stud Australian Oaks at Melton’s Tabcorp Park.

Bond gifted the drive to John Caldow, the equal most successful driver in the race’s history, when regular driver Colin Brown surrendered the drive in order to stick with Ima Rocket Star in the Hondo Grattan Sprint at Menangle.

Caldow, an Australian Oaks winner aboard Newbold Penny (1995), Mother Courage (1999) and Cherry Cheer (2001), is thrilled to be given his chance aboard the former Kiwi who has won eight of nine starts in Australia.

“This race and the Victoria Oaks, they’ve both been pretty good races to me,” said Caldow, who shares the record for Australian Oaks wins with Gavin Lang.

“While I haven’t driven this filly before, on her record she’s pretty well-placed alongside the others. But she’s going to have to be from where she’s drawn.”

The scratching of Ima Happy Girl deprived Millwood Meg of an edge she appeared to have over the other drawcard, Kiwi superstar De Lovely, in the 2240-metre mobile.

The daughter of Mach Three was allocated gate nine – one off the pegs on the back row – at Tuesday’s barrier draw, but moves in one position to the tricky inside-back-row spot following Ima Happy Girl’s withdrawal.

The Geoff Small-trained, David Butcher-driven De Lovely, who originally drew 10, now assumes the prime trailing draw behind speedy beginner Mes Cullen.

“We were very happy after the draw but things have changed a bit,” Caldow said. “It was all good when we were one-off and we looked like being in front of her (De Lovely) but things are different now.

“I’ve got a few things to think about and probably won’t work out what I’m going to do until we get rolling.”

TAB Sportsbet reacted to the barrier shuffling by installing De Lovely, a winner of the New Zealand Oaks and Harness Jewels Diamond at two of her past three, a raging $1.60 favourite.

Millwood Meg is rated a $3.50 chance as she strives to add the Australian Oaks to the Western Australian and Queensland Classics she counts among her victories since joining the Bond camp in March.

Local star Rocknrolla ($6.50, barrier 13) is the only other runner under double figures, ahead of Miss Trickin Lombo ($15, 12) and Queensland raider Torque In Motion (seven), who has met with good early support ($31 into $21).

Courtesy of Brad Bishop, HRV Media Manager

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 a
minimum 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 by $25,000 to $425,000

• The Australian Trotting Grand Prix will increase by $25,000 to $125,000

Several other semi-features have also had an increase this year. They include:

• Bill Collins Trotters Sprint – increase from $50,000 to $60,000

• Vicbred Championship – increase from $20,000 to $25,000

• EK Bray Country Cup increase from $8000 to $10,000

• VHRSC Provincial Cup – increase from $8000 to $10,000

• VSTA Trotters Cup- increase from $8000 to $10,000

To fund the increases there will be an expansion in the number of restricted-class race meetings – specifically a $3000 Thursday afternoon circuit at Tabcorp Park, Melton.

“The increase to a minimum of $7000 on Saturday nights will provide a point of difference for horses in each class,” HRV chief executive John Anderson said.

“Connections will have a choice of the restricted circuit, the $5000 career-front circuit or the $7000 Saturday night circuit.

“The restricted class meetings are proving increasingly popular and there is a clear demand for them to keep a large number of horses in the racing population. Field sizes
have increased this year primarily as a result of the strategic placement of restricted meetings.”

“This season’s calendar is designed to provide racing opportunities for all classes of horses and to maximise wagering turnover in these difficult times.”

Courtesy of Brad Bishop, HRV Media Manager

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 Of Chips (USA), timed his finish  along the inner to a nicety for trainer-driver Ross Graham, grabbing the favourite late to win by a neck.

The winner rated 2:04.7 for the mobile 2650m, the leaders running their last 800m in 58.7s and final 400m in 28.9s.

Rostevarren, last season’s Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trot Final victor, is now the winner of 9 of 16 starts, including 6 from 8 this season.

He has a best winning mile rate of 2:00.3 (1720m) set when beating ex-Kiwi Tuhimata Glass by 5.1m in last month’s $A25,000 The Holmfield Trot at Tabcorp Park, Melton.

The second Victoria Trot Derby Heaat will be run at Geelong on Wednesday night and includes fellow NZ trotter Miami H, the runnerup to Kahdon in the Great Northern Trotters Derby in April.

Miami H will start from the four gate for co-trainer-driver Derek Balle. The heat also features former NZ 3YO’s Tuhimata Glass (gate 5) and Landoras Pearl (8, inside back row).

A 3rd heat of the series will be run next Saturday, with the $A75,000 Final to be run at Maryborough on July 18. 

ALFORD NOTCHES 4000TH VICTORY

Chris Alford has won most of the biggest races on the Australian harness calendar, but his win aboard Mapua Legend in the Maffioso C1 Pace at the Bendigo fixture on Saturday night  will forever be special.

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 talented locals in his heat.

 Waiting for him will be last-start South Australian Trotters Derby and defending Breeders Crown champion Tuhimata Glass and Victorian-based New South Wales Trotters Derby winner Backas Cobber.

Miami H got an edge over his key rivals at the draw, coming up with gate four. Tuhimata Glass is alongside in five, but Backas Cobber has it all to do from barrier 12 on account of being out of the draw.

One interested onlooker when the 2570-metre race is run at 11pm (NZ time) will be Mark Jones, trainer of another Kiwi visitor, Kahdon.

The daughter of Sundon had Miami H’s measure in the May’s Northern Trotting Derby and entered the Victoria Trotters Derby series nominal favourite for the final.

But her quest for the big Derby double didn’t get off to the best start at Bendigo last Saturday night when she was beaten in the first heat.

Kahdon had a nice run in front after holding the lead from gate one, but couldn’t withstand the powerful sprint-lane burst of the Ross Graham-trained Rostevarren.

Despite being run down in a 2:04.7 mile rate, Jones was happy with the run – Kahdon’s first since demolishing her rivals Victoria Trotters Oaks on June 11 – and hasn’t lost faith in his star charge.

“Reverse the roles and you probably reverse the result, but she had a nice run and she had her chance,” Jones said.

“She’d had an easy time of things since the Oaks and she was always going to improve on the run.”

The first four home in Wednesday’s night’s heat will join Saturday night’s first four placegetters – Rostevarren, Kahdon, My High Expectations and Cameos Moment – in the final at Maryborough on Sunday, July 18.

The remainder of the field will be made up on the first four home in the final heat, which will be run at Cranbourne this Saturday night.

Courtesy of Brad Bishop, HRV Media Manager

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 of Maitland.

“He’s beaten the ones at home pretty easily, but this is definitely the hardest level of opposition he’s met. It’ll be a good test for him, to see where he’s at against the good trotters down there.”

 My High Expectations comes to Victoria a winner of four of his six starts, having occupied minor placings at the other two.

The son of Ken Warkentin started an odds-on favourite in the New South Wales Trotters Derby, but while he had to settle for third placing behind Backas Cobber, he galloped away and did well to get within 27 metres.

He bounced back with an effortless 13m win at Menangle in the HRNSW Trotters Foundation Final on June 1.

“In the Derby up here he gave them about 100 (metres) and got beaten just over 20, so he went well that night, but he can’t afford to be making mistakes,” Ruggari said.

 “After that we aimed him at the Foundation at the Menangle and he won that, so he’s back on track and this is just the next step now.”

 My High Expectations has at least drawn to challenge the big pair from gate four. That’s not quite as good as last-start Victoria Trotters Oaks winner Kahdon, who drew one, but a more favourable gate than Rostevarren (nine).

 A top four finish will earn My High Expectations a spot in the $75,000 Group 1 final, to be run on the big Redwood Classic Day at Maryborough on Sunday, July 18.

 “He’s raced back in the field, been in front and sat parked a couple of times, so he’s pretty versatile,” Ruggari said. “He can come out (of the gate) pretty good, so we’ll be aiming to do that end up somewhere close to them.”

After Saturday night the Derby qualifiers continue at Geelong next Wednesday before the final heat at Cranbourne on Saturday, July 10.

Courtesy of Brad Bishop, HRV Media Manager

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

4 11131 My High Expectations 4 fr Adam Ruggari

5 65131 Ninegrandsons 5 fr Tom O’Shea

6 06243 Strapperama 6 fr Daryl Douglas

7 980×2 Vets Delight 7 fr Kerryn Manning

BACK ROW

8 48700 Apollo Nine 8 fr Shane Hall (C)

9 11161 Rostevarren 9 fr Ross Graham

10 63×15 Imagunnadogood 10 fr Joe Attard

11 95623 Bellingham 11 fr Anthony Crossland

12 71703 Cameos Moment fr Mal Whiteford

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 to advertisers and value added services they could get nowhere else,” says publisher Harold Howe who has had a strong relationship with harness racing in New Zealand and Australia for more than 20 years.

“The Harness Edge Downunder will present the very best feature articles on the people, horses and issues in the southern hemisphere.  This will be quite unlike anything else that presently exists.  The whole magazine experience will change.  The Internet has changed everything and that includes racing.  Trainers now enter their horses online, owners check entries and results online and of course the racing news online.  Now we’ll give them the insight to the racing game online.”

The first publication will be released in late August just after the Australasian Breeders Crown and prior to the start of the breeding season in New Zealand and Australia followed by the second in advance of the various yearling sales.  The third will coincide with the Inter-Dominions and the fourth will be prior to the Jewels in New Zealand.

“Anyone who provides their email address will receive an automatic notice when the magazine is posted for viewing.  The magazine is free so from the advertisers perspective that is terrific news.  They have a built in audience to receive information about their products and services,” says Howe.

“Being online means we can imbed video.  For example instead of just seeing a photo of a stallion we can include a video of a race by himself or his performers.  Articles can link to breeding farm or racetrack websites.  Sale companies can have their online catalogues immediately in the hands of potential buyers.  It is the way of the world and The Harness Edge Downunder is right at the forefront of it all.”

Phil Niall will be sales representative for The Harness Edge Downunder.  Phil is based in Auckland, New Zealand and has a lifetime of experience in both the breeding and racing industry.

“When first approached about this idea it immediately got my attention.  I was well aware of The Harness Edge but never thought we’d see something like this in New Zealand and Australia.  I don’t care if you are a trainer, breeder or racetrack official this is going to be a must read for all of them,” says Niall.

“Harness racing in both Australia and New Zealand has many great people involved but so many never get any notice.  The feature articles in this publication will spotlight those people and also give us some insight into the many Kiwis and Aussies who are now based in North America.  I can’t see how The Harness Edge Downunder can miss.”

For more information contact Phil Niall at the Auckland bureau at 64 (021) 900 141 (mobile) or 64 (09) 3073900.

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 a breeding package to Courage Under Fire for $NZ 20,000 (plus GST). Stallion Station  says this is a unique opportunity for breeders to keep their average cost down and insurance against any future price increases.

Packages will entitle broodmare owners to five services to Courage Under Fire – two in the coming season and one each for the following three seasons – at a total cost of $NZ 20,000 PLUS GST, the equivalent of $NZ 4,000 (plus GST) per service fee.

“By purchasing a breeding package, breeders will ensure they have priority to Courage Under Fire this season.” Stallion Station sales manager Les Joslin said.

The offer is open until June 30, 2010 when payment of $NZ 20,000 (plus GST) is required in full.

Courage Under Fire has matched his greatness as a racehorse in the siring barn. From five crops to race in NZ he has sired the winners of $5.9 million, with 85 in 2:00 and 12 $100,000 winners.

In Australia, ‘Courage’ has left 107 foals three-year-old and older and 48 are winners, remarkable 45% winners to foals and earning $1.6million between them.

Courage Under Fire’s list of winners includes 3 Derby winners _ Lanercost (Aust & Tas – 2010), Courage To Rule (Vic – 2010) and Sleepy Tripp (NZ – 2009).

He has also left this season’s NZ Oaks winner Secret Potion, and NZ record holder Lancome (1:54.9, 1700m).

Group winning youngsters by Courage include: Itsallabout Nicole, Brush With Courage, Bells And Whistles, Cosmic Under Fire, Gilt Bromac and Maggie Kennedy (in Australia), and  Lancome, Flak Jacket, Days Of Courage, Eyecatcher Courage, Itz Cherry Ripe and Franco Jamar (NZ).