Kiwis excel on record-breaking day in Canada

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Two ex-pat Kiwis, Dexter Dunn and Francent, have been in record-breaking form on a huge day of racing at Ontario's Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Over the weekend Dunn, a five-time USA Driver of the Year, claimed the $620,000 Maple Leaf Trot in a new track and Canadian record with Super Chapter in 1:49.6 and Francent took out the $255,000 Grade 2 Milton Stakes for pacing mares, again in a track and Canadian record (1:47.6).

Super Chapter became a triple millionaire with what was the four-year-old's fifth win in seven starts this season. It was his 19th overall (from 32 starts).

He lowered the previous aged trotting stallion record set by Aetos Kronos S in 2025 (1:49.8) to give trainer Marcus Melander his third win in the event, following on from Periculum (2024) and Crazy Wow (2018).

Bred by Westport's Bob Higgins, Francent was a multiple Group winner in this country before heading to North America earlier this year.

She debuted at Yonkers in New York in July.

With her win in the Milton Stakes, Francent has now won four in a row. Her victory was by three quarters of a length with another Kiwi-bred in Louies Girl N running second and Dunn's star mare Twin B Joe Fresh back in fourth. The previous record was 1:47.8 set by Grace Hill in 2023.

Francent is now clearly a bona fide star in North America with 17 wins from 35 career starts. Among her future targets could be the Breeders Crown in October in Ohio. 

Other winners on the night included former Kiwi open classer Dalton Shard while the winner of the Canadian Pacing Derby was Best Chip in 1:46.8, equalling the stakes record set by none other than the great Bulldog Hanover in 2022.

At the Meadowlands in New Jersey, Brett Beckwith, the USA's representative at last year's World Driving Championship around New Zealand, had a Saturday night to remember. He reined home six winners, becoming the first driver to win six or more on two occasions at The Big M this year. 

In the Drivers' standings Dunn is second overall with $8.7m in stakes during 2026. He has 201 wins from 768 starts this year. Just above him is reigning Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett with 421 wins and $8.75m in stakes.