News Briefs - November 19

Some fun facts about Cup week and a lot of milestones all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Winners and milestones for Dalgetys    

It's been a week of accolades for husband-wife training partnership Cran and Chrissie Dalgety. They won their 200th race together when Franco Sinatra won the Junior Free For All at Addington on Cup day and their 10th and 11th Group 1s with Freeze Frame (Colts and Geldings) and All Of Me (Fillies) in the two Sires' Stakes 2YO Finals. They quinellaed the latter with The Queens Gambit finishing second. Friday's success was also Cran Dalgety's 50th Group 1 win overall (both here and overseas)

1300 for Matty

Matty Williamson chalked up New Zealand driving success number 1300 when Seeking Clarity won his first race at Winton on Sunday. It was Williamson's  68th success this year. He had a double at the meeting, being successful also with Bowlem Over. His first win was with Springfield Tiz, trained by his father Phil, at Invercargill in 2008. Seeking Clarity is the first winner sired by Ultimate Sniper.  

500 for Telfers

Stonewall Stud's brother-sister combo of Steve and Amanda Telfer secured their 500th win as a training partnership when Double Jeopardy won for Tim Williams at Addington on Show day (Friday). They are having their best ever season with 153 wins so far to lead the premiership by 52, with Michael House on 101. The Telfers' first win was with Superbass at Manawatu in 2021.

Orange one away from 150

The country's leading driver Blair Orange is on the brink of his 150th winner this year. He is currently atop the premiership with 149, 34 wins ahead of Tim Williams, who had his 1000th winner with Transonic at Ashburton last week. Orange has topped 150 wins for the last eight seasons with his best being the 267 he had in the elongated 2021 season.
 
Wins on both sides of the Tasman

It was a distinctly different environment but the result was the same for Luke McCarthy at his first drive since winning the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington with Kingman. The multiple Group 1 won with $2.10 favourite Go Without at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales. He also finished second with Don Hugo in the night's Listed Classic, the Bidgee Mobile pace , behind Captains Knock. He'll be back in Christchurch this week with Kingman at microscopic odds to win the Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington.

$15m beckons for Dex

Dexter Dunn is on the verge of winning $15m in stakes this year. The 10-time Kiwi champion is currently at $US14.8m, with 275 wins. He is second behind Jason Bartlett ($US15.2m). Aaron Merriman has the most individual wins, with 805.

Kawhi among lots for sale

The latest gavelhouse.com auctions close from 7pm tonight, with six lots being offered. Among them is Kawhi, a six race winner for Darren Keast. His last race was a sixth at Kaikoura (November 3). At last look bidding had reached $2500.

To see the horses up for sale click here

Club News :  Kaikoura

The Kaikoura Trotting Club would like to thank the many people including trainers and drivers for making the effort to be part of what was a very successful two day meeting at South Bay on November 2 and 3. The club recognises it's a big undertaking to get to their race course and they are very grateful to  everyone involved and look forward to seeing you next year.