Latest News

ADDINGTON REPORTS SUCCESSFUL NZ CUP WEEK

November 25, 2015

Addington is pleased to report fantastic turnover and attendance results for Cup Week 2015.

Combined wagering totalled a substantial $10,165,338, which was down only marginally on last year’s record figure, which was then a huge 20% increase on 2013.

Cup Day continues to head the domestic racing events of all codes by some margin with combined (on and off course) figures coming in at over $6.355 million whilst the Show Day combined figures were $3.810 million, an increase of $340k on 2014.

A massive $1.790 million was wagered on the 112th running of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup, the 11th year the Christchurch Casino have sponsored the famous race.

Crowd turnouts across both days of premier racing were in line with those reported in 2014 with nearly 28,000 attending.

Met Chairman Barry Dent commented: “being able to meet aggressive revenue targets set for this year’s Cup meeting has put the club in a good position to further examine ongoing sustainable stakes and bonuses for events at the Raceway.
“Without a successful Cup Week this would not be an option for us.”

“This Friday’s race meeting sees ongoing minimum stake levels rise to $7500 for the first time, with this being directly attributable to the overall sound financial health of the Club, of which Cup Week remains a cornerstone to our on-going success.”

Courtesy of Ged Mooar,
Marketing & Commercial Manager,
Addington

REAL TORQUE DELIVERS, HALF-BROTHER DOES SAME IN USA

Real Torque edged a step closer to the $22,000 Alabar Sires Stakes 3YO Fillies Series Heat at Auckland on December 11 with a comfortable front-running win at Alexandra Park on Friday, November 20.

Along with stablemate, Northern Velocity, who tired after moving up parked over the final lap in a stronger C2 & faster fillies and mares pace last Friday, the stablemates will try to qualify for the $150,000 final at Auckland on December 31.

Well-rated by trainer Mark Jones, Real Torque furthered a useful record at Alexandra Park, scoring her third win there.

Real Torque, notched her third win from just seven starts when successful at Alexandra Park on Friday, November 20.

Given an easy time in front, the Real Desire-Club Sport filly was too good over her last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in 28.5s, rating a moderate 2:04 for the full 2200m.

Meanwhile, at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on Monday (NZ time), her well-performed older half-brother Statesman notched his fifth win of the year from 27 starts for trainer Ron Burke.

Statesman, a former useful NZ performer, winning nine for Tony Herlihy, has taken a 1:50.4 North American mark and his career earnings now exceed $500,000.

The win by the now 8YO Christian Cullen-Club Sport gelding on Monday lifted his yearly earnings past the $US100,000 mark.

Statesman won in 1:54.1 (fifth) on the half-mile Yonkers track in a $US20,000 pace for non-winners of $US18,000 in their last five starts.

He proved too strong for Shadow Place and front-running ex-Kiwi Regulus.

The performances of Statesman in America and another half-brother Calais, in Perth, have enhanced the value of Real Torque, a former moderate $10,000 buy at the Australasian Classic Yearling Sales.

Calais, sold unraced as a 2YO out of the Cran Dalgety stable, has won four of 19 West Australian starts and taken a 1:55.3 mile rate record over 1730m at Gloucester Park.

Real Torque is also a half-sister to other winners in Monaro (seven wins, 1:58.5), Imperative (two NZ wins, 1:55.1, US) and minor winner Jilletto.

An unraced half-sister in Karlysia has left the handy northern winner Majestic John, twice a winner in 12 starts.

EARLY SUSTAINING PAYMENTS FOR 2016 NZ DERBY

November 24, 2015

Nominations for the 2016 Muscara Standardbreds New Zealand Derby will be taken mid-December to increase exposure and to enable fixed odds markets to open earlier.

Nominations for the Derby will close at 3pm on Wednesday,  December 16, 2015.

Muscara Standardbreds New Zealand Derby – $200,000 – Group 1 – April 8, 2016

Initial nomination fee Wednesday, December 16, 3pm (NZ time), $100.

First late nomination fee Wednesday, January 20, 3pm (NZ time), $1000.

First withdrawal fee Wednesday, January 20, 3pm (NZ time), $200.

Second withdrawal fee Wednesday, February 24, 3pm (NZ time), $400.

Final late nomination fee Monday, April 4, 1pm (NZ time), $5000.

Starting fee $2500.

All fees are plus GST.

All fees above are included in the total stakes pay out.

The 2016 Muscara Standardbreds New Zealand Derby will be run for a stake of $200,000.

Please note that horses must be withdrawn by the specified dates above otherwise owners will be liable for payments.

For full details including breakdowns of stakes on the above please visit www.addington.co.nz.

Alternatively, please call Brian, Richard or Colin of Addington’s Racing Department on (03) 338 9094.

Courtesy of Ged Mooar,
Marketing & Commercial Manager,
Addington

MASTER LAVROS BACK ON TOP IN SECOND DOMINION TRIUMPH

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones doesn’t show much emotion but winning a second Group 1 $255,000 Hellers Dominion with Master Lavros was special.

The culmination of all the hard work behind the scenes with the giant squregaiter had the juices flowing down the straight the final time.

Mark Jones salutes as he wins a second G1 Hellers Dominion with Master Lavros.

Master Lavros delivering again at Group 1 level had the World Champion driver saluting specifically to his Woodend Beach right-hand man Regan Todd.

“I’m a bit emotional so I’ll leave the shades on,” he said after 12 months of uncertainty.

“Regan does all the hard work with him and I get the easy job,” Mark said.

Regan was quick to qualify the Master Lavros success story as a team effort.

Moments earlier and Master Lavros (inner) has a commanding lead from Alley Way (wide) and Habibti (centre).

On the same day last year their were serious doubts whether Master Lavros would ever win again, let alone get back to Group One level.

The giant squaregaiter didn’t look good.

After galloping in last year’s Dominion, he sent Master Lavros north for a dye test to determine whether the horse’s troubles could be pin-pointed and whether he could get back to the top.

General wear and tear issues were diagnosed. The upside was he had time on his side being only six and still young for a top squaregaiter.

Owner Kypros Kotzikas is congratulated by NZ Metro’s Ged Mooar while partner Jane Campbell looks on.

The horse returned to Canterbury, was spelled, and the long road back began.

But this time his joint issues were treated and the next task was to get him fit enough to compete against Stent, who had disposed Master Lavros, as NZ’s No. 1 squaregaiter.

Master Lavros resumed racing in March and with three runs under his belt he pushed Stent to a head in the Group One Rowe Cup at Auckland on April 24 in a strength-sapping 4:03.6 (3200m).

Master Lavros had his revenge on Stent at Addington on May 9, then won again on May 15, before being spelled.

Turning seven and returning this spring, Master Lavros was comfortably beaten into second first-up by Stent at Addington on October 2, won in his absence a week later, then was swamped to run fourth as Stent scored easily in NZ record time at Kaikoura 11 days prior to the Dominion.

All good. Kypros dispays his appreciation to Mark Jones.

Regan knew what was required. In a virtual replay of what occurred two years ago when Master Lavros ran fourth at Kaikoura preceeding his first Dominion triumph as a five-year-old.

Master Lavros needed more work and be trimmed to his peak racing weight of 550kgs.

Mark says he doesn’t like racing him too much in that lean state but the results speak for themselves.

Master Lavros was in front with two laps to run (2400m left) of the 2015 Dominion, seizing an advantage over Stent, who bounded into an early break, settling ninth on the outer and working into a three back one-out trail.

Mark rated the big boy perfectly but nothing less was expected from a former World Champion reinsman.

Master Lavros had Stent (parked) for company beginning the final 800m but he was always in control.

Kypros Kotzikas hoists the magnficent Hellers Dominion trophy for on-lookers.

Mark lifted the tempo with the wind at their backs the final time feeling confident Master Lavros would see it out to the finish.

The burn in the second-to-last quarter had Stent battling turning for home and it was left to Stent’s stablemate Alley Way (from four back on the pegs) to get closest, unwinding wide for Matty Williamson, with Sheemon (trail) next ahead of Habibti and Stent.

Master Lavros had the race in safe keeping, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in 4:05.9 (2:03.6 mile rate), trotting his last 800m in 57.6s and final 400m in 29.3s into the cool easterly.

The beautiful comeback also proved emotional for owner Kypros Kotzikas on the victory dias.

The successful United Fisheries businessman and racehorse owner delivered a heart-felt speech which included thanking all the people with their work behind the scenes, Mark Jones, Regan Todd, the NZ Metro TC president and committee, sponsors Hellers, and a special mention of his late wife Mary, who died from cancer in March 2013.

Kypros Kotzikas and partner Jane Campbell show their delight for a swarm of photographers.

“I thank everybody and make mention of my wife Mary. I am very proud to be standing here today with the horse that we bred,” he said.

Kyros declared Master Lavros, a gelded son of 1990 Dominion winner Sundon and an imported Sierra Kosmos mare Lavra Noblesse, would be back next year.

The now dual Dominion champ will try and join other trotting greats in Lyell Creek and Take A Moment as three-time Dominion winners in 12 months time.

Master Lavros lifted his earnings to $582,102 with Friday’s win, his 19th from 46 starts.

By Jeff Scott

CONGRATUATIONS TO MERV AND MEG BUTTERWORTH

Overport Lodge intermediate-grade squaregaiter Eyre I Come couldn’t repeat his opening race win of 12 months ago at Addington on NZ Cup day for co-owners Merv and Meg Butterworth, and Grant Hatton, having every chance when fourth as Petite One won in NZ record time for a mare over 3200m.

The Butterworths, who also race opening trot runnerup Blackguard’s Corner from the Allstars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, later became the toast of Australasia, along with Victorian trainer-driver Kerryn Manning, after taking out the $750,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup with former Kiwi pacer Arden Rooney.

Owners, Meg and Merv Butterworth, and Arden Rooney’s trainer-driver Kerryn Manning, are joined by showgirls after winning the $750,000 Christchurch Casino-sponsored New Zealand Cup, on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.

“It was a great for them,” said Overport Lodge trainer, Mark Jones.

“They put a lot into racing in both Australia and New Zealand and deserve all their success,” he said.

The Melbourne-based Butterworths’ have also enjoyed regular success having horses at Overport Lodge, including winning last season’s Group 3  Invercargill Cup and Nelson Cup with Johnny Fox.

Mark, driving Victorian visitor and expatriate Cantabrian Corzin Terror in Tuesday’s NZ Cup,  settled five back on the markers and finished on a touch in the straight for eighth, seven lengths from Arden Rooney, who led after the opening 150m and controlled the front-end.

After running the first mile in 2:02.4, Kerryn Manning had the race panning out the way she wanted with Arden Rooney, picking up the speed over the last mile in 1:55.

She had a lapful of horse when favourite Smolda (recovering after an early break), moved up parked at the 900m, and kept going tenaciously to hold by a head in 3:57.4 (3200m) to become the first female driver to win a NZ Cup.

Ironically, Arden Rooney ran exactly the same time as he did for the Allstars team at his first NZ Cup attempt when 12th to Adore Me a year earlier, but this year it was good enough to grab the $412.500 winner’s cheque.

A lap to go in the cup and Arden Rooney is full of running on the top end from Mossdale Conner (trail) and Franco Nelson (three back). Messini leads the one-out line ahead of Ohoka Texas with Sky Major and Smolda improving three wide.

Arden Rooney, like many of the former NZ horses owned by the Butterworths,  transferred to Kerryn Manning in Victoria after last year’s NZ Cup as it was felt he would be better placed for his future racing in Australia.

The Bettor’s Delight-Tosca Hanover gelding, a brother to Arden Torres (1:58.3, Aust) and half-brother to three-win Overport Lodge 4YO mare Maritime Arden, has  become a cups king with his free-running front-end pattern of racing.

Under Kerryn Manning’s wing, he was an upset winner of another biggie, the $A400,000 AG Hunter Cup at Melton last February, while he’s also won the Geelong, Mildura, Terang and Swan Hill Cups in Australia.

Merv Butterworth then mentioned to Kerryn he’d promised to Kaikoura Trotting Club president Bob Rochford that Arden Rooney would be back to defend his Kaikoura Cup title this year, and Kaikoura would be in their plans on his return for a NZ Cup bid.

The rest is history.

Arden Rooney parades with the dress rug after taking out the 2015 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup for history-making driver, Kerryn Manning.

Arden Rooney recovered after an early tangle to move up parked,  led turning for home, and held late finishing Allstars runner Messini in the 2015 Kaikoura Cup, then added the NZ Cup to his growing tally to take his earnings to nearly $1.1 million.

The win was also a triumph for the late Tapanui breeder Noreen Stiven, whose extensive breeding interests are being continued by her son John at Arden Lodge.

Noreen was a former good supporter of the Mark Jones stable, with John Stiven also having horses at Overport Lodge.

John, and his wife Judy, race Maritime Arden with Mark Jones, while the Overport team also won two races last term with the ill-fated Someardensomewhere, a horse bred by Noreen and raced by a syndicate formed by John Stiven.

Someardensomewhere, who set a NZ record first-up at two for the Allstars stable, never fulfilled his initial promise. He transferred to Overport last term after his form tapered for other stables. He ended up winning seven in his career and earning $65,645.

Arden Rooney, Arden Torres and Maritime Arden, are from a qualified but unraced Walton Hanover mare Tosca Hanover, a half-sister to the former tough Lew Driver-trained pacer The Reckoning (12 wins incl. a PGG NZ Yearling Sales 2YO Open Pace & $NZ311,000), Tossed Out (1:56, US, 10 wins) & Svelte Celt (nine Aust. wins).

Tosca Hanover is from Tosti (Soky’s Atom-Aberfeldy, 2001 NZ Broodmare Excellence Award winner), being a half-sister to former top filly Megaera (p3, 1:56.8, grand-dam of  former 2YO Aust. Breeder Crown Fillies winner Katy Perry); former open class pacer Reba Lord (1:56) and Jayvee, the dam of former Grand Circuit pacer Sovereign Hill (1:55.5) and Tarena Jay (1:58.6), the latter the dam of 2005 NZ 2YO Pacer of the Year Jays Debut (1:53.2, US).

Arden Rooney’s fourth dam, 1990 NZ Broodmare of the Year Black Watch, was unbeaten in five 2YO starts including the NZ 2YO Championship, won 14 races  during her career.  She also ran third in the 1973 Auckland Cup behind top geldings of her era in Arapaho and Young Quinn.

Black Watch (Scottish Command-Rosehaven), beside leaving the unraced Aberfeldy, left seven individual winners including six in 2:00, and has been a tremendous ancestress of winners for breeders, Yarndley Farms, over the last 40 years.

Nancy Iola, a half-sister to Black Watch, earlier shaped NZ Cup history leaving Burgundy Lass, the qualified but unraced Noodlum dam of dual New Zealand Cup winner Il Vicolo (1995-96).

Burgundy Lass is also the notable grand-dam (through Vicario) of another 2011 Hunter Cup winner in the former speedy Tim Butt-trained entire, Stunin Cullen (1:54.1), also winner of the 2008 G1 NZ 3YO Sires Stakes Final in a then NZ 3YO record 1:54.1 mile rate (1950m) and 2008 G1 Northern Derby.

Black Watch descends from the original family of mare Regina (born in 1885).  Through another branch, the Regina family became ancestress of another New Zealand Cup winner, 1978 victor Trusty Scot.

By Jeff Scott