News Briefs - April 15

Marketplace's return to the trials, a new role for junior driver Henry Sail,  Dexter Dunn's latest successes  and a wrap of Cambridge's Night of Champions all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Marketplace prepares for race-day return
 
Marketplace's race-day return is getting closer. Last year's champion three-year-old was back at the trials at Ashburton yesterday (Tuesday) where he started off 30 metres in a five horse trial that included Regan Todd-trained stablemate Mo'unga. Both were not pushed, having good hit-outs as they prepare for up-coming assignments. Marketplace's first major target will be the Group 2 Superstars Championship at Addington on May 8. His arch rival Got The Chocolates meanwhile has won three from three this campaign including one win in a new New Zealand record and is being aimed at the $100,000 Group 1 Taylor Mile on April 24. He is currently a $3.20 second favourite behind dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee ($3). Swayzee and Got The Chocolates are also the top two picks for the two other big Group 1s as part of the Northern Lights Autumn Carnival in the Roy Purdon Memorial on May 1 and the New Zealand Messenger on May 8. All three races are at Alexandra Park.

BB recovering in USA

A popular competitor at last year's World Driving Championship in New Zealand, Brett Beckwith is recovering after a race-day incident at Saratoga in New York over the weekend. He broken his wrist and also suffered a fractured jaw and was taken to hospital where he is in a stable condition. A fourth generation horseman, Beckwith started driving competitively at 18 and four years later became the youngest driver in history to record 2000 driving wins. At the 2025 WDC Beckwith finished eighth with his only win coming with Look To Da Stars at Addington on NZ Cup day.

Premiership pacesetters

Both the country's leading trainers and driver are on the verge of 50 wins for 2026. Blair Orange, the eight-time champion, is on 49 to lead John Dunn by four while Robert and Jenna Dunn are on 47 wins for the year to lead the trainers' premiership by 12 from Michael House (35). Last year's record-breaking premiership winners Steve and Amanda Telfer are next on 30. The junior drivers' premiership is a close run thing with old rivals Wilson House and Carter Dalgety both on 30. Meanwhile in North America Dexter Dunn is starting to hit his straps after a quiet start to the year. He reined home three winners at the Meadowlands on Friday with Zeppole Hanover, Dont Drop The Ball and Odds On Wildfire. To keep up to date with DD check out his new Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/DexterDunnRacing  

From $1.05 to $88

Cambridge's Night of Champions had a bit of everything from a betting point of view. There were the favourites headlined by the Aussie stars Keayang Zahara ($1.05 Fixed odds) in the TAB Trot, Ripples ($1.90) in the Magness Benrow Sires' Stakes 3YO Fillies Semi Final and Leap To Fame ($2.50) in the $1m The Race by Sport Nation and then there were plenty at odds. Bettor Reaction paid $32 in the Trans Tasman Invitational Mobile Pace, Itmusclebelove ($25) was one of two winners for Crystal Hackett, along with Francent, and Lincoln Wave gave trainers Ray Green and Nathan Delany their second winner for the night when Lincoln Wave and Maurice McKendry got home, paying $88, following on from the success a race earlier of Leo Lincoln, also at double figure odds ($13).  

Crazey prices for Walner filly

Just days after winning at Cambridge's Night of Champions with Ripples, her owner Mick Harvey has forked out a record $250,000 for a Walner filly in Australia. Harvey, Victoria's breeder of the year who also owns reigning New Zealand Cup champion Kingman, bought the Walner - Dance Craze yearling at the Nutrien Sale in Melbourne on Sunday. Bred by Pat Driscoll's Yabby Dam Farms, it is a record price for a trotting filly in Australasia. Coincidentally her half brother Duke Of Bourbon (Face Time Bourbon - Dance Craze), who sold for $240,000 at the 2025 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka, will debut for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan at Alexandra Park this Friday night in Race 4, the Breckon Farms 2YO Mobile Trot (6.21pm) after winning both his recent trials.  

Ben keeps rolling

An eight-race winner in this country, Mossdale Ben has produced the fastest time in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series, winning at Yonkers in New York over the weekend in 1:50.1. It was the defending champion's 20th career win. The series has two more prelims before a $200,000 final on May 8.

Fresh start for Henry Sail

These days junior driver Henry Sail (pictured above) isn't just thinking about finishing races off well - he wants to become an expert at starting them as well. The 24-year-old had his latest winner, his 12th in total, when Kowhai Summit won at Addington last Wednesday. It was the second win for "Kowhai" horses, raced by John and Jill Hartnell and trained by Sail's employers Greg and Ben Hope, after Kowhai Nugget and Cheree Wigg had teamed up earlier to win the amateur drivers' race. Sail has started a number of trials after being approached to give it a go. "Six months ago I wouldn't have even thought about it - it's been a complete change of mindset." He's keen to see where it leads. "You have to have a clear mind and treat each race as being different."

2YOs remain unbeaten

Cran and Chrissie Dalgety are having quite the run with two of their purchases out of the 2025 National Yearling Sales. The country's top two-year-old Tour Party is currently spelling after winning four from four and stablemate Roger That is now two from two after winning at Winton on Sunday. Both were bought for $150,000 by the Dalgetys' Kentuckiana Lodge. Second to Roger That on Sunday was Patriot for Steve and Amanda Telfer. He was the equal sales topper at the 2025 National Yearling Sales along with Captain Me for $360,000. Both were bought by Stonewall Stud. Patriot has had a third and a second from two career starts.

Weanling deadline tomorrow  

Entries for the NZB Standardbred's National Online Weanling Sale close tomorrow (Thursday, April 16). To nominate your weanlings or yearlings, visit NZB Standardbred’s online portal at standardbred.portal.nzb.co.nz or contact Grant Inglis by calling +64 9 298 0055 or email Grant.Inglis@nzb.co.nz. The catalogue will be live on gavelhouse.com on Thursday, May 7 with bidding during the week of May 13-20.

Aaliyah fourth in latest outing

After featuring in a "Win A Share in a Race Horse" competition last year, two-year-old filly Aaliyah continues to show promising signs. In November 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. On Sunday she finished fourth in the Group 2 Miki's Deal Southern 2Yo Fillies Classic won by Gottagoodfeeling. Aaliyah has now had three career starts including a second, and earnings of $8562.

Club News : Manawatu

The Manawatu Harness Racing Club will reward those travelling to its remaining two-day meeting this month. For April 28 and 30 the club has decided to pay $100 for every horse that travels to Palmerston North from outside the region. Horses will only have to start on one day at each of the meetings to be eligible for the payment. For more information contact dan.lynch@xtra.co.nz. Over the weekend the NZ TAB also released a fuel relief package. To see details click here

Club News : Invercargill  
 
Diamonds Day is always the glittering conclusion to many of the south’s major harness race series. Once again this year, courtesy of Coats & Schuck Jewellers and the Invercargill Harness Racing Club, one lady will leave Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Sunday 26 April with a Diamond Ring valued at well over $5000.
 
The prizewinner is found after each time a lady places a $5 bet on-course they receive a coupon to fill in to place in one of the buckets around the venue. One of those coupons will be drawn out in the grand prize draw during the afternoon and the person whose coupon is drawn will take home the ring provided they are on course to claim it.
 
The day will include the $100,000 Group 1 Diamond Creek/SBSR 2YO Classic, the finals of both the $60,000 Group 2 Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes and the Group 2 Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks plus the $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Cups Final.
 
Admission is free to this big day of racing with the first race expected at around 12 noon.