News Briefs - February 25

Beau Jangles named Horse of the Year, Harrison Orange wins Revell Douglas series, and a trials win for Aaliyah all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Dan Patch awards - Horse of the Year

With a perfect 12 wins from 12 starts in his 2YO year, Beau Jangles has been named North America's Horse of the Year at the annual US Harness Writers Association's  Dan Patch function in Florida. The son of Cattlewash became just the fifth 2YO to take out the top award, winning 59 of the 133 votes. Jason Bartlett was named Driver of the Year after a 2025 that netted more than $16m in stakes and over 700 wins. He beat the likes of ex-pat Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn who's won the accolade five times.

Raspalia now two from two

A three-race winner for Kirstin Green in this country, Raspalia has now gone back to back in North America since arriving there in late November. Driven by Lauren Tritton, Raspalia won her latest race by over a length in a lifetime best of 1:52 at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Raspalia, a four-year-old Johny Rock mare, was bred by Tom Kilkelly.

Orange wins Revell Douglas series

Thanks to two wins early on Harrison Orange has won the Revell Douglas Memorial Series. The seven-heat series for the junior drivers started at Hawera in January. Orange finished with 46 points, nine clear of Emily Johnson (37) and defending champion Seth Hill (36). Hayden Douglas won the final heat at Cromwell on Sunday driving the Matt Brinsdon-trained Always A Menace. First held in 2022, the series is held in memory of the late Revell Douglas who tragically drowned at Karioitahi Beach in 2021. Orange joined previous series winners Hill, Wilson House (2024), Leah Hibell (2023) and Alicia Harrison (2022).

Aaliyah in winning form at trials

After featuring in a "Win A Share in a Race Horse" competition last year, two-year-old filly Aaliyah could make her race day debut in the next few weeks. In November last year breeder-owner Andrew Fry offered five people a share in the Sweet Lou filly who is the first foal out of former New Zealand record-holder Ariella. Mikayla Rowland, Logan Dunlop, Greg Wilson, Ian Rolfe, and Julie Allan were the winners and were each given 2% of the filly. They will get a percentage of all winnings, with no outlay at all. Aaliyah had her first hit out for trainer-driver Matthew Williamson at Oamaru and then qualified at Addington last week. She ran 2:35.4 over the mobile 2000m, leading all the way before winning by half a length.

Maiden win for 9YO

Typhoon Tere's win at Wyndham last Friday was nearly six years in the making. In January the Washington VC nine-year-old was back on the racetrack for the first time since a fourth on debut at Addington in 2020. He had been sidelined with a cracked pastern and other issues. His long-awaited victory came in his fourth start this campaign for trainers Jason and Ian Thomas and it was impressive as he beat Stumpy Blackler by nearly five lengths. He followed up his maiden win with a second at Cromwell on Sunday.  

Change of dates and venues  

Wyndham:

Owing to damage to the Wyndham grandstand late last year, the club has elected to transfer its upcoming meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 19 March to Gore.

Invercargill :

Heat 2 of the Southern Supremacy Stakes series will be held at Ascot Park, Invercargill on Wednesday, March 11, instead of March 1 as originally scheduled.

Auckland :

To improve the pattern of 2YO Trots in the North Island, the race originally scheduled for 27 March at Alexandra Park has been rescheduled to be run one week earlier, on 20 March 2026.

Rangiora :

Next week's trials at Rangiora have been brought forward. They will now be held on Tuesday (March 3), and not Thursday (March 5). 

Team Teal fund-raiser 

A big Team Teal fund-raising night is being organised for Addington on Friday, March 13. The night will feature the final of the Frocks at the Trots fashion competition with the $60 tickets also including a drink on arrival, a buffet dinner and other race night entertainment. Team Teal is HRNZ's annual campaign raising awareness of ovarian cancer and funds towards research. For more information about the evening contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz