News Briefs - 16 Oct

By Garrick Knight

Handy Canterbury mare Uptown Lady has been sold to American interests.

The daughter of Art Major left for Colts Neck, New Jersey, last Friday.

Her former trainer, Mark Jones, says it was disappointing to lose a mare of her quality.

“She has a good turn of speed, a great attitude and will love the hard racing over there.

“I was sad to lose her but the lack of fillies and mares’ options here was a reason to sell.

“And we lose a nice future broodmare, too.”

Accompanying her across the Pacific was another four-year-old Art Major mare in Flashazz, a one-win daughter of former Harness Jewels winner, Pembrook’s Delight.

Also on the flight was Global Domination, who ran fourth in last year’s New Zealand Derby behind Ultimate Sniper and had just resumed racing for the new season with a couple of inauspicious performances.

He’ll join the stable of Peter Tritton, a prodigious buyer of New Zealand stock over many years.

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Former Group 1 winning trotter Great Things Happen has had a minor setback.

After a disappointing resumption in the Canterbury Park Trotting Cup at Addington on October 4, Rangiora trainer Gavin Smith got the horse checked out.

“It was the worst he’s ever gone – he just doesn’t do that,” Smith said of his 10-length defeat at the hands of Oscar Bonavena after doing no work in transit.

“I thought something had to be drastically wrong.

“So, we got him scoped and he was full of snot. His bloods were fine so it’s no wonder we couldn’t detect it beforehand.”

With the horse requiring an easy time of it, his Dominion Trot preparation has been compromised and Smith now faces a race against time to get him fit enough for the November 15 feature.

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An old friend is about to reunite with the dominant All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.

Cruz Bromac is due to return to their Rolleston stable next week for a second Spring stint in Christchurch.

The New Zealand-bred pacer won last year’s New Zealand Free For All on Show Day after being slightly unlucky in the New Zealand Cup three days earlier.

He then contested the Inter Dominions for Purdon and Rasmussen, going undefeated in the heats before running third behind Tiger Tara in the Final.

He stayed in Australia through the winter and recently resumed for trainer Amanda Grieve, running third in Saturday night’s Victoria Cup.

Purdon confirmed the $12 fifth favourite for the New Zealand Cup was due in the next 10 days when speaking on Radio Trackside on Monday.

“He’s going to join us; we’re making arrangements this week to fly him over so hopefully they’ll have him on the way by next Sunday.

“It was an eye-catching run in the Victoria Cup; he made up good ground for third.

“I’ve spoken to Dean Braun and he’s been very, very happy with his preparation and how he is.”

Cruz Bromac is also nominated for December’s Inter Dominion Series in Auckland.