News Briefs - Dec 10

Francent becoming the most "winningest" horse in 2025, big numbers at Wingatui, and Don't Stop Dreaming heading to the USA all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Francent seals eighth win  

With her win at Alexandra Park on Friday night, Francent is now the most successful horse in the country (wins-wise) in 2025. Her neck victory over Arafura in the Group 3 Northern Breeders Stakes was her eighth of the season from 20 starts. She has won $156K in stakes. Those to have had seven wins this year are northerners Lord Popinjay and Aquilla. Francent's next race will be Friday's Group 1 Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park.

$1m Sunday at Wingatui 

Forbury Park Trotting Club's Sunday meeting produced a notable first. The club turned over $1.025m, the first time the club had surpassed $1m on the grass at Wingatui, and just the fourth time overall (the others were at Forbury Park). Last year turnover at the corresponding meeting was $935K.

400 for Poutama 

Andre Poutama brought up his 400th win when he drove a double for trainer Scott Dickson at Manawatu last night. Firstly he won with All Muscled Up and then prevailed with Dixieland Delight. His first win, as a junior driver, came with Red Styx at the same venue in 2011 for his uncle Stephen Doody.

Whites hit 100

The father-son training combination of Brent and Tim White brought up their 100th success together when Snooowgood won at Oamaru on November 27. It was their 27th win this year. Their first win was with Bobby Waterhouse at Banks Peninsula in September 2022.

2025, according to the NZ Sires' Stakes 

A "challenging but progressive" year is how the New Zealand Sires' Stakes sum up 2025. They have just released their observations on the last 12 months. To read their latest correspondence, click here 

DSD off to USA

Classy pacer Don't Stop Dreaming has been sold and will do his future racing in the USA. A winner of 18 races and $1.3m, the Bettor's Delight five-year-old was also good enough to run second in the 2024 Hunter Cup behind Leap To Fame and in the 2025 IRT New Zealand Cup (behind Swayzee). His last race in this country was a seventh behind Kingman in last month's New Zealand Cup.  He left New Zealand yesterday.

Dunn close to $15m

Champion Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn is on the verge of hitting $15m in stakes in North America this year. He is currently on $14.9m, to be second overall behind Jason Bartlett on $16m. Dunn, a five-time USA Driver of the Year, has 278 wins this year. Bartlett has 776, while Aaron Merriman has the most of anyone at 860. 

Dalgetys to hold another open day

Following on from the success of their first open day this year Kentuckiana Lodge are doing it again in 2026. Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will open their stables to the public on Saturday February 21, 2026. The open day will be held just days after the conclusion of the 2026 NZB National Yearling Sale in Christchurch. To see more click here 

Winners get share of filly

The winners have been confirmed in the "Win A Free A Share Of A Racehorse" competition run by Matty Williamson's Racing Stables. Breeder/owner Andrew Fry was offering up five two per cent shares in his one-year-old filly Aaliyah. The winners will get a percentage of all winnings with no outlay at all. The five are : Mikayla Rowland, Logan Dunlop, Greg Wilson, Ian Rolfe and Julie Allan.