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Greymouth Trotting Club

At a Special Meeting of the Greymouth Trotting Club held on Wednesday 25th November a motion was passed unanimously, following legal advice, that the club should seek voluntary liquidation.

After much sole searching by the Club the move to end over 100 years of trotting at Victoria Park was a very difficult decision. As a Club we had to take this prudent step. Our financial position was such, that to continue ahead given the increases in expenditure and the probability of a fall in race revenue, left us with no other option than the one we have taken.

No one factor can be blamed for this decision. Firstly, rising costs and falling revenues have been significant factors. Secondly, costs of upkeep at the park have increased and this has not been helped by the recent costs of repairing storm damage and the continuing problem of vandalism. Thirdly, our governing body Harness Racing NZ has seen fit to schedule Gore Harness racing on our Sunday Cup day which we believe would have a significant negative impact on our off course turnover.

As President of the Greymouth Trotting Club I would like to sincerely thank the local community for all their support over the years. Also to all the owners, trainers and sponsors who have regularly attended and supported our meetings we also thank you.

John Wood
President
Greymouth Trotting Club

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Maximus respectus following record qualifier

For many years for top performer Delft had been the fastest trotting qualifier at the Pukekohe track over 2500m.

Last week at the Franklin TC trials the Richard Brosman-trained four-year-old Makati Maximus stopped the clock at 3.18.9 (2.08.0 MR). The time carved a second and a half of Delft’s previous qualifying record.

When delving back into the pedigree of Makati Maximus there are clear signs of potential. Makati Maximus’ fourth dam is Cordsworth, the dam of one of the most famous Brosnan-trained horses, No Response.

It should be noted that three-year-old, Miami H, chased Makati Maximus the whole way and got within a neck of the winner. Miami H is a royally bred son of Muscles Yankee and Martina H.

Both trotters look exciting prospects and will not be far from hitting the racetrack.

Click here for a direct link to the trial result.

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Cup and Mile champ back to Oz for Victoria Cup

Monkey King returned home earlier this week after his Miracle Mile triumph to get away from the heat and prepare in familiar, comfortable surroundings for next week’s Victoria Cup.

Monkey King will head to Melbourne next Wednesday night after a two-day trip by float to Auckland.

Speaking with trainer Brendon Hill, Monkey King arrived home in great shape and Hill felt Monkey King was almost “too well” when being jogged lightly this morning.

Should Monkey King win the Victoria Cup next week he will set himself apart from those that have gone before him. No horse has won the NZ Cup, NZ FFA, Miracle Mile and Victoria Cup quadrella in one season.

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Euroglass Young Guns commences Friday

The rich Euroglass Young Guns Series kicks off at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The series that takes in seven heats, including one in Invercargill and a two fillies’ heats culminates in a $150,000 final on Auckland Cup night for the boys and a $100,000 final on the same night for fillies.

The expected favourite for the first heat is the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne trained Major Mark. He is one of four Art Major colts in the race and his trial form in Canterbury before heading north was dominant.

Those expected to give Major Mark the sternest competition include the Ken Barron pair of Major Obsession and Thumpem and Ray Green’s duo of Major Ouch and Clyde Maguire.

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Your chance to own a Winner

The Invercargill Harness Racing Club's Regent Car Court sponsored twilight Christmas At The Races meeting at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Friday will be the opportunity of a lifetime for racegoers to own a top class standardbred.

The Southland Standardbred Breeders Association are running an "owner for the day" competition in conjunction with the event. Tickets will be sold to gain a share in Shard Ark, a 3 year old bay gelding trained by Tom Kilkelly and Tracee Sherborne at Tisbury. Shard Ark will run in Race 7 on the card, the Forde Auto Services Mobile Pace, timed to start at 7.10pm.

Those who buy a ticket to gain a share of Shard Ark will go through the range of emotions of an owner on race day - anticipation, excitement and nervousness. More importantly they also gain a chance to share in the net stake won by the horse in the race.

Shard Ark is a quality pacer and will give his team of owners a marvellous chance at success in the race to be run over 2200 metres. Trainer Tom Kilkelly says, "the horse has been to Auckland and won a listed race worth $100,000. It was a last start winner at Invercargill in November and must go close to winning on Friday."

Shard Ark's biggest success came in the PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Series Final at Alexandra Park in May. 'Archie' Amour was the driver on that occasion and he will be in the sulky again on Friday evening.

Many will never get the opportunity to experience the excitement of being the owner of such a class pacer but on Friday night anyone can. Tickets will be on sale at the Secretary's Office and around the course on Friday evening. They can also be purchased by contacting the Southern Harness Racing Office at the Ascot Park Raceway on 03 217 9117 prior to the event. Ticket holders do not have to be on course on the night but those who are will share in some special moments.

The owners will meet in the North Stand and will get to meet the trainer and driver. They are welcome to venture into the stable area to inspect their "purchase" and then get to watch the race with everything riding on the result. Should Shard Ark, as expected, win any part of the stake on the race the owners will divide the proceeds between them. After the race, win or lose the "owners" will be photographed in the birdcage with Shard Ark.

It is an exciting innovation, one that gives an experience that comes to few. Tickets are just $25 and the good chance in the race will give its "owners" every chance of a good return on their investment.

The promotion is just one part of an exciting event planned for Friday. The Christmas At The Races event will see many organisations enjoying hospitality in marquees, tents and corporate areas while there will be many other attractions on course. Kidz Kartz, the new youth programme that teaches harness driving and racing skills plus the care of miniature horses and ponies, will have their first ever race outing in front of the sizeable crowd.

As is befitting at a Christmas event Santa will make an appearance and there will be mini jeeps and free lollies for the children. The nations iconic sporting trophy, the Ranfurly Shield, will be on course and patrons will be able to have their photographs taken with the prized Log Of Wood.

Admission to the Regent Car Court Christmas At The Races meeting is free with the first race timed to start at 4.00pm. Ten races are scheduled with the last timed to go at 8.55pm.

Lindsay Beer
Promotions Officer
Southern Harness Racing Inc.
03 216 2007
021 351 499
lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz

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Monkey, king of the track

With the New Zealand Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All under his belt, Monkey King headed to Australia in attempt for a Group 1 treble within just three weeks. The race was the SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile and the field, Australasia’s top eight racehorses. This was destined to be something special and Monkey King did not disappoint.

Three Kiwis flew to Sydney to contest the prestigious one-mile race – Monkey King, our fastest mare Kiwi Ingenuity and champion pacer Auckland Reactor. Their competition included Australasian mile record holder Smoken Up and three-time Inter-Dominion winner Blacks A Fake.

An early speed battle saw Lonestar Legend, Kiwi Ingenuity and Smoken Up all have a shot for the front, whilst Monkey King’s driver Ricky May bided his time in the one-one. With Lonestar Legend handing up to Kiwi Ingenuity, who in turn gave the lead to Smoken Up, Amy Tubbs, on Melpark Major, ensured Lance Justice (Smoken Up) had no peace by applying the pressure outside the leader.

A record mile was in the making following the first quarter in a sizzling 26.2, with the second quarter run in 29.4. Following a third quarter of 28.5 Monkey King unleashed his devastating sprint on straightening for the run to the judge, and he quickly pounced on the leaders to establish a winning break.

Karloo Mick, who sat one-by-two, battled on bravely down the straight and Smoken Up kept fighting to the finish, but in the end, Monkey King held too many guns for his rivals. The son of Sands A Flyin, stopped the clock in 1:50.8, with the final quarter a brilliant 26.7 in blustery conditions. The previous Australasian mark was 1:51.9, held by Smoken Up.

Of the other Kiwis, Kiwi Ingenuity should have lost no admirers with her fourth. The star mare worked off the gate before training Smoken Up. She was held up a touch on entering the home straight but battled hard to go down by less then two lengths.

Auckland Reactor was the big disappointment of the race. The Purdon/Payne flyer settled second last and only made his move on the home bend. He merely plugged in the home straight, unable to take ground off Karloo Mick whom he followed throughout the running. The Reactor finished sixth about 3.5 lengths from Monkey King.

Trained by Brendon Hill, seven-year-old Monkey King has completed a rare feat of the Group 1 NZ Cup, NZ FFA and Miracle Mile treble. Only four other horses have completed the treble within the same year – Master Mood (1986), Christopher Vance (1991), Chokin (1993) and Christian Cullen (1998).

This was May’s second Miracle Mile win, with his first in 1996 behind Iraklis. With a winning time of 1.54.2, Iraklis had held the race record, whilst it is still the Harold Park track record. The first four across the line in the 2009 Miracle Mile, were the only starters to have competed in the 2009 NZ Cup, which begs the question as to what is the best build up for the Sydney classic?

After earning $677,080 in stakes during Cup and Show Week, Monkey King can add AUS$300,000 to the pot for Cavalla Bloodstock Ltd (Robert Famularo). This tips Monkey King’s earnings to over $2million since he began racing in October 2005.

HRNZ and NSWHRC.

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Bettor’s Strike’s close Cranbourne Cup win

One day before Monkey King won the prestigious Miracle Mile, Bettor’s Strike began the Kiwi onslaught with a win in the Group 2 Cranbourne Pacing Cup near Melbourne. After a stunning second place in the NZ Cup he lined up as second favourite behind Kiwi-bred and Kilmore Pacing Cup winner Ohoka Nevada. And it was these two who dominated the race.

From barrier three Ohoka Nevada sped to the lead whilst Bettor’s Strike and driver Dexter Dunn were held up from the outside of the front line. Dunn soon pushed Bettor’s Strike wide before sitting outside of the leader. The two favourites remained in this position until the home straight.

Bettor’s Strike and Ohoka Nevada stepped away form the field in a two-horse war down to the line. It appeared Ohoka Nevada had won the battle however a final lunge from Dunn saw the visiting Kiwis charge over the line in an extremely close finish with a short-half-head win. Nearly nine metres back was third placed Karlsruhe.

Trained by Cran Dalgety, Bettor’s Strike added AUS$40,500 for his efforts on Saturday night to his NZ season’s stakes of $194,666. The son of Bettors Delight has now won 12 of his 50 starts whilst also placing 20 times over his career. This is the first time his owners, Jim and Susan Wakefield have decided to send the five-year-old overseas.

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Second Wind dominates Geraldine Cup

Second Wind continued his brilliant season form by winning the Geraldine Trust Cup on Saturday at the Orari grass track. Heading into the race with five wins and two placings from seven starts this season and with Ricky May in the sulky, it was no wonder Second Wind was the hot favourite.

Stepping well off the front row, May moved the Simon Adlam-trained Second Wind toward the front as Living Blue Boy took the early lead. It was not too long before May decided to make the move to the front. With a lap to run he was confidently pacing in front. With 800 metres to run, David Earnshaw with Cullen’s Creek moved up parked to apply pressure to the leader.

Second Wind and Cullen’s Creek ran onto the home straight together leaving the pack for dust. Second Wind stepped it up a notch and gained the upper hand with a three-quarter-length lead over the Tim Butt and Phil Anderson-trained runner down the straight. In spite of his best efforts, Cullen’s Creek couldn’t reach the favourite who made it back-to-back wins. Almost eight lengths back was third placed Rangataua Ray.

Second Wind’s impressive season has seen the four-year-old earn nearly $50,000 in stakes from six wins and two thirds. The son of Dream Away (USA) is owned by Adlam’s brother Greg and is one of only seven horses Adlam trains. His season statistics are also impressive with only 12 training starts, for eight wins and two seconds.

Driver May had decided to stay in NZ for the Geraldine meeting, meaning an early 6am Sunday morning flight to Sydney for the Miracle Mile. It was a wise choice with the Methven reinsman winning earlier behind another Adlam runner, Itz Prahda Dahling.

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Rider On The Storm outruns Northern rivals

It’s that time of year again, when many Southern horseman head north with horses in tow to chase big stakes and Group races at Alexandra Park. Robert Dunn is one such trainer and on Friday night he lined up Rider On The Storm in the 2009 Pak’N Save Franklin Cup. Closing as fourth favourite at the tote, the Live Or Die gelding had some tough competition in the form of Changeover and Pembrook Benny. However they did not faze him or his driver John Dunn.

Rider On The Storm stepped away very quickly from the front row to take an early lead. Favourite Pembrook Benny and driver Barry Purdon soon made his move to take over and set the pace. Dunn happily slipped back into the trail. Pembrook Benny held onto the lead as other runners took turns at sitting outside of him. Dunn bided his time until the passing lane was in sight.

Stablemates Pembrook Benny and Power of Tara led off the final bend, but it was Rider On The Storm who had the final and most compelling say. Running down the inside, the five-year-old fought off strong competition from Power of Tara to win the Cup by three-quarters-of-a-length. It was the same margin back to Changeover in third.

Friday night’s win came as Rider On The Storm’s 12th for his five owners. His 37 starts have seen him bring home $177,995 in stakes with the Franklin Cup his first Group win. It was a red-letter day for part-owner Jamie MacKinnon as he is lucky enough to hold shares in both Rider On The Storm and second placed Power Of Tara. Had he stayed loyal to his runners, MacKinnon would have been well rewarded with a $63 quinella.

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G Small and P Butcher Judicial Cases Hearing Dates

1. The Judicial Control Authority Appeals Tribunal set down to hear the Geoff Small appeal met this morning to confirm dates for the consideration of this matter. The Tribunal has determined that the appeal will be heard in Christchurch on 17,18 December. The stay of penalties in relation to the original JCA decision has been extended to the hearing of the appeal.

2. Driving charges in relation to P Butcher’s drive on Awesome Armbro in the Woodlands NZ Free For All on 13 November are to be heard by a JCA panel in Auckland on 4 December. This was originally to be heard in Christchurch yesterday, but was deferred to better suit the availability of the JCA panel set down to hear this.

Edward Rennell | General Manager | HRNZ

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Chertsey trials nominations to Ashburton

Nominations for the Chertsey Trials on the 1st December will now be taken by the Ashburton Raceway
Phone (03) 308-6794 closing at 3.00 pm on Monday 30th November.

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Trainer and Driver Milestones

Congratulations to the following trainers and drivers who have achieved lifetime milestones  this season:

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New Stud Book

Volume 36 of the stud book is due in store the first week of December. It has been four years since the previous volume, whilst only a limited number are being produced. So order yours now.

Email admin@hrnz.co.nz for details

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