News Briefs - Sept 17

Three records at Oamaru, a change to the Northern 3YO Stakes, the latest on Dexter Dunn, and a Horse Ambulance fund-raiser all feature in this week's News Briefs.  

Three records on Hannon Memorial day  

Oamaru enjoyed a record-breaking meeting on Sunday. There were two New Zealand age group records and a new race record in the day's feature, the Hannon Memorial. In the Diamond Creek/SBSR Juvenile Stakes, Incentivise was very impressive winning in 2:23.8, a new New Zealand record for two-year-old colts and geldings, smashing Another Party’s 1997 record of 2:25.1. In the Nevele R Fillies Series Hayden and Amanda Cullen trained the trifecta with Winelight winning in 2:23.6, a new New Zealand record for three-year-old fillies, beating Sweet Diamond's old mark of 2:23.7 set in 2023. Akuta's win in the Hannon Memorial was cut out in 3:11.4. It was an outstanding win for the now two-time champion, easily beating the previous mark of 3:13.4 set by Spankem (2019) and Cullen's Creek (2010).

3YO Stakes re-scheduled

The Northern 3YO Stakes, which were originally going to be raced at Alexandra Park this Friday, will now be held in December. The re-scheduling is due to insufficient entries for this week's race. It will be raced on Friday December 12. It is well placed with the Golden Gait at Alexandra Park a week later.

Champion mare back winning

She's back. Reigning USA Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh has bounced back from two recent defeats to dominate arch rival Sylvia Hanover and win the $210,000 Milton Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario, Canada. Driven by ex-pat Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn, who is also a part owner of the champion mare, Twin B Joe Fresh made it win number 34 in 1:47.8. That time equals the Canadian record for a female pacer. She won by over five lengths. “She was alive tonight,”  Dunn said post race.

Dunn memorabilia on sale

Speaking of Dexter Dunn the racing top he wore at the 2010 Australasian Young Drivers Championships is up for sale, with all proceeds going to the Blue September fund-raiser. The red and black top, with DD emblazoned across it, will be up for auction on HRNZ's Facebook page from Thursday. Dunn, a five time USA Driver of the year, is the third highest stakes earner in North America this year. He has won over $US9m and had 204 wins in 2025. Jason Bartlett ($11.4) and Yannick Gingras ($9.6m) are the two drivers ahead of him.

Beckwith shines in the USA

America's representative in the upcoming World Driving Championship in New Zealand has again shown how much of a threat he could be. At Plainville Massachusetts Brett Beckwith won six races on the card with Fourever Boy recording the fastest time of the day (1:49.8). Beckwith is a star in North American racing. In 2025 he has won 456 races and nearly $US5m in stakes. He will be in New Zealand as 10 of the world's best drivers go head to head at four venues - Kaikoura, Winton, Cambridge and Addington. To see more on the World Driving Championship go to wdc25.nz

Kiwis going Yonkers

Two ex-Kiwis shone at Yonkers in New York over the weekend, both winning for decorated trainer Per Engblom. A seven-race winner in this country, Louies Girl won her first start in the USA in 1:53.6 while Mazeppa broke early in his race and looked out of contention before rocketing home to win very impressively . Both arrived in the USA in June. Mazeppa won 13 of 62 starts in NZ for Luk Chin.

Sky Major's run of success

It's been a good week for the stock of Sky Major. Three of his progeny - November Nine, Ada R J and Crackasky - completed the trifecta in the Diamond Creek / SBSR Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace at Invercargill last Thursday before Helium (Sky Major - Cooking With Gas) won in a new track record at Eldorado Scioto Downs in Ohio over the weekend.  The five-year-old, who went to North America in March, won the $25,000 Open Pace in 1:46.8.  

50th for Poutama

Andre Poutama claimed his 50th training success when he also drove Desert Dawn to victory in the Garrards Horse and Hound Mobile Pace at Cambridge last Thursday. His first training win was with Beg For Chevron in 2018. He has also has driven 381 winners, his first coming with Red Styx as a junior driver at Manawatu in 2011.

$900 raised for Horse Ambulance Trust

A "luxurious" weekend away has raised $900 for the New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust. The auction on gavelhouse.com closed this week. The prize includes brunch and a private farm tour at Ken and Karen Breckon's state of the art complex at Ohaupo, a round of golf at the new Tieke Golf Estate in Tamahere as well as a food and accommodation package in Cambridge. The auction was part of the Trust's winter appeal. In total it raised $49,000 with the Trust grateful for the generosity shown by the racing community right around the country.

21st win for Aardiebytheseaside

Champion mare Aardiebytheseaside celebrated her 21st in Perth over the weekend. In her first run in three months she won at Gloucester Park by a length. Aardiebytheseaside had eight wins in this country, including the 2023 New Zealand Pacing Oaks for Team Telfer, before heading across the Tasman in February last year. Trained by Greg and Skye Bond in Western Australia, the Downbytheseaside five-year-old has now had 21 wins from 41 starts. Among her upcoming assignments will be the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic and the $150,000 Mares Classic at Gloucester Park in November.

Club News : Cambridge

Cambridge Raceway will host a Blokes Night on Thursday. The tickets are $70 which includes dinner and a drink on arrival as well as a heap of on-course entertainment. Proceeds from the night will go to the annual Blue September fund-raiser for prostate cancer research.

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