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ROBBIE CLOSE REWARDED WITH FORBURY WIN

Successful junior driver Robbie Close advanced to 21 seasonal wins when he guided
Reklaw Supreme to win at Forbury on April 2 for employer Mark Jones.

Robbie was the South Island leader for the NZ Junior Drivers Championship beginning April, 10 points clear of Stevie Golding, with fellow Overport Lodge juniors, Kimberly Butt and Michelle Neilson next.

He is currently second on the NZ Junior Drivers Premiership, four wins behind Craig Ferguson, who also gained experience under Mark Jones during winter stays in Canterbury.

Robbie Close, formerly a South Aucklander, had stints with Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, and Barry Purdon, before moving to Canterbury in search of opporunities five years ago.

He spent three years with Robbie Holmes before transferring to fellow North Canterbury trainers Greg and Nina Hope.

He was rewarded with a New Zealand Cup drive behind the Hope-trained Jason Rulz in the 2013 New Zealand Cup, the pair finishing eighth behind Terror To Love.

They also combined to run fourth to Christen Me in the 2013 Group Two Glenferrie Farm Canterbury Classic.

This year Robbie teamed up with the Woodend Beach arm of the Mark Jones stable.

He was luckles in his first drive for the stable behind Goodness Gracious Me when she was badly in season and subsequently failed badly at Addington on February 20.

Regular driver Blair Orange had Auckland commitments on February 20 but returned to Addington a week later when Goodness Gracious Me put her seasonal complaint aside to win at the Cheviot meeting on March 1.

Robbie made the most of his catch drive behind Reklaw Supreme at Forbury, when co-owner and regular driver Wayne Higgs took a night off.

Reklaw Supreme, downgraded last month, made the most of a slightly easier race in the
C1-2 Stunin Cullen/Pinelea Farm Handicap Pace.

He tangled away but quickly settled with Robbie sending him to the top with 1800m of the 2700m pace remaining.

They were always travelling too well for early leader Johan’s Jet, coming clear by two lengths in strong 3:26.9 (2:03.3 mile rate) for the stand-start 2700m.

Reklaw Supreme, a 6YO Christian Cullen gelding, was purchased by Wayne and Mervyn Higgs out of the Greg and Nina Hope stable in December when Wayne decided to make a return to ownership and racedriving.

Now the winner of six from 58 starts, Reklaw Supreme will try for back-to-back wins when he returns to grass track racing at Motukarara on Sunday.

Wayne, who drove his first winner at his third racedrive behind Bronze Touch at Nelson in June 2000, formerly drove in a New Zealand Cup himself.

He partnered his former top horse White Arrow to finish unplaced in Mainland Banner’s 2005 Cup.

Wayne returns to the sulky behind Reklaw Supreme on Sunday but will have to overcome an outside second row barrier over the mobile 2000m.

By Jeff Scott

NEW ADDINGTON WINNING POST SPONSOR

Racegoers, event and function attendees and diners at our bar and bistro Spectators will notice a new design and sponsor of the Winning Post Area and its surrounds at Addington.

Construction has recently taken place of the new Winning Post signage, which includes a brand new sponsor of the highly exposed focal point.

Farmlands Co-operative has furthered their advertising with Addington by taking overall naming rights of our Winning Post.

Farmlands Acting Chief Executive, Tony van der Hoorn says Farmlands is pleased to be able to support Addington in its Winning Post redevelopment, and to support the wider racing industry as it has a strong connection via its equine brands, McMillan Equine Feeds and NRM.

“A wide range of our shareholders are either involved directly in or are supporters of the equine industry. Farmlands is proud to support them in both their professional and recreational endeavours.”

Chairman of The Met Barry Dent says, “We are delighted to be associated with
Farmlands as it is not only an exceptional company but a brand we want to be associated with. Many of their brands including NRM and McMillan Equine Feeds include significant products that are beneficial to the harness industry. I know the benefits for the club, Farmlands and the industry will be significant.”

Farmlands is New Zealand’s largest rural supplies co-operative. The organisation was established more than 50 years ago, with the specific intention of providing competition in the retail farm supply industry, to reduce farmers’ input costs.

To obtain further information on Farmlands, its services and products, visit www.farmlands.co.nz

Courtesy of Ged Mooar,
Marketing & Commercial Manager,
Addington

MASTER LAVROS RUN DOWN BY FAVOURITE STENT

An enterprising drive from Overport Lodge trainer-driver Mark Jones nearly resulted in a minor upset in this year’s $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington on Friday, March 27.

Lack of race hardening on the part of Master Lavros told in the dying stages as hot favourite Stent rolled home to take out the Group One and top $1 million in earnings.

Stent, took his earnings past the $1 million mark when successful in this year’s $80,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Championship at Addington.

However Mark and Master Lavros made matters interesting.

Master Lavros, having only his second race back since last November’s Dominion Handicap, made a gallant attempt for back-to-back wins in the race.

He worked to the front after the opening 600m and kept the pace strong.

Mark and Master Lavros tried to put a winning break on Stent as the favourite was held up clearing the ruck at the 400m.

The plan worked until the final 100m when Master Lavros peaked on his run and Stent gathered in the tearway leader to win going away by a length.

Sheemon ran on solidly along the inner for third, ahead of King Denny, One Over Da Moon and Alley Way.

Stent, raced by Trevor Casey and trained by Colin and Julie De Filippi, won the Trotting Championship in a smart 3:15.3 (mobile 2600m), a mile rate of 2:00.8.

The 6YO Dream Vacation-Belle Galleon gelding, fresh from taking out the Great Southern Star in Victoria earlier this month, was recording his 27th win from 58 starts, taking his earnings to $1,010,053.

Twelve months ago Master Lavros won the race in a NZ record time of 3:13.1, but given he broke when fresh last week, this was really his first serious test this time in.

The result was pleasing with Master Lavros now back on track for races like the $80,000 Anzac Cup at Auckland on April 17, and to defend his $150,000 Canam Rowe Cup title, also at Auckland on April 24.

TERROR TO LOVE TO BE FAREWELLED AT ADDINGTON

March 24, 2015

Three-times Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Terror To Love will start for a final time when he lines up in the Group One $100,000 Breckon Farms / All Stars Racing Stables Easter Cup on Easter Saturday, April 4.

He is a former winner of the race in 2013.

Terror To Love, the triple NZ Cup winner, with driver Ricky May.

“The King”, as he is known to many in the industry, lines up in this Friday’s Group Three $25,000 Gordon Roxburgh Free-For-All, before facing the starters tape for the final time in the Easter Cup over his favourite 3200 metre distance where he’ll lead the field out onto the track.

It’s appropriate that he finishes his racing career at his favourite racetrack, he’s won 16 of his 32 starts at Addington, the champ will bow out as one of the greatest pacers we have ever seen with his career highlight undoubtedly being crowned a three-time winner of New Zealand’s holy grail, the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

This is a feat only equalled by two other great pacers – Indianapolis and False Step many years ago.

That won’t be the last time fans will get to see “The Terror” though.

The winner of over a staggering $2.4 million will be back to be officially farewelled on The Breeders New Zealand Oaks Night at Addington on Friday, May 15, before entering his new career as a stallion where he’ll stand at Pinelea Farm in Weedons, Canterbury.

Fans will get the opportunity to see “The Terror” on the night. He’ll parade up the home straight, a presentation hosted by The Met will take place and there’ll be promotions throughout the evening to honour one of the greatest equine athletes ever to grace the racetracks of Australasia.

Adding to this, his owner Terry McDonald will be generously donating a stallion service for Terror To Love which will no doubt be warmly received, as there’ll be a large number of breeders on course attending a function on Oaks Night.

Make sure you are at Addington to see “The Terror” and be part of a farewell he so richly deserves.

Courtesy of Ged Mooar, Marketing & Commerical Manager, Addington Raceway.

NEVELE R FILLIES FINAL STAKE RISE

The NZ Sires Stakes Board has reviewed the budget for the Nevele R Fillies Series and is pleased to announce that the stake of the Final, to be held at Addington on Saturday May 9, will rise from $140,000 to $150,000.

There are two more heats left to be run – Forbury Park on 2nd April and Addington on 23rd April.

Fight For Glory, The Agent Orange and Rocker Band are all automatic qualifers for the Nevele R Final with their heat wins.

Both The Agent Orange and Rocker Band have won two heats and are ineligible to contest the remaining heats.

An estimated $15,000 consolation is to be held the same date as the Final, providing there four or more acceptors.

Courtesy of Doreen Graham, Secretary/Manager, NZ Sires Stakes Board

NEW SPONSOR FOR NZ OAKS

March 17, 2015

New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chairman Barry Dent, together with New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association (NZSBA) Chairman John Mooney, are pleased to announce that the Group One New Zealand Oaks will be sponsored by the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association.

Over the last three years the NZ Oaks had been sponsored by the Canterbury Standardbred Breeders’ Association.

Barry Dent

Met Chairman Barry Dent commented: “We are delighted to have cemented this partnership with the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders’ Association for the New Zealand Oaks, a race which is so significant in many ways for their members.”

“We are both significant industry stakeholders and this initiative follows on from a number of others the club has developed over the last few years. I know the benefits for the club, the Association and the industry will be significant.”

To be named The Breeders’ New Zealand Oaks and to be held on Friday, May 15, the title brings together the NZSBA and the most prestigious race for three-year-old fillies, that was run for the first time in 1948 by the New Brighton Trotting Club.

The stake this year is an impressive $150,000, up $50,000 from 2013, and is one of those iconic races on the harness calendar that is the desire of every breeder to win, in order to establish their filly as not only a wonderful racehorse, but in time a valuable broodmare.

Previous winners include top class pacers Under Cover Lover, Elect To Live, Mainland Banner, One Dream, Kiwi Ingenuity, De Lovely, Carabella and of course the recently retired champion mare Adore Me. Last year’s race was taken out by Ideal Belle.

Further information on the NZSBA can be found by visiting www.harnessracing.co.nz

Courtesy of Ged Mooar, Marketing & Commercial Manager, Addington.