News Briefs - April 22

A return to race day driving for Brittany Graham, important changes of dates and venues, and a training milestone for the Prices all feature in this week's News Briefs

Brittany Graham to drive Tetrick  

High profile Trackside presenter Brittany Graham will have a change of roles at Addington on Friday. She will drive her own horse Tetrick in Race 1, Remembering Colin Berry Handicap Trot at 3.14pm. The four-year-old gelding, trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, has won four from 14 starts including three in New Zealand this year for driver Carter Dalgety. Graham moved from Australia early in 2025 after driving more than 300 winners across the Tasman. She then brought Tetrick over from Queensland. It will be her sixth drive in this country. Friday's race is named in honour of well-respected and long-time South Island-based racing photographer Colin Berry who died this week, aged 89.  

Change of date for Mares' race

The North Island Mares Championship Trot, originally scheduled for Friday, May 8, at Alexandra Park, has been rescheduled and will now be run a fortnight later on Friday, May 22. This decision was made in consultation with the Auckland Trotting Club and the Northern branch of the Trainers and Drivers Association, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcome for the race. HRNZ apologises for the late change to the schedule. For enquiries, please contact bureau@hrnz.co.nz.

Change of venue to Gore

Due to on-going infrastructure issues the Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting scheduled for Wyndham will now take place at Gore on the same day, Sunday June 2. The racecourse suffered major damage in high winds last year particularly to its grandstand. The licence change to Gore, about 30 kilometres from Wyndham, has been approved by the TAB NZ Sates Committee. HRNZ would like to thank everyone for their co-operation in this matter.

Orange to drive Jumal  

The country's top driver Blair Orange has been engaged to drive classy three-year-old Jumal in the Great Northern Derby at Alexandra Park on May 1. He replaces Sam Ottley who has driven Jumal in all previous 11 starts. Last year's champion two-year-old has won nine of them with trainer Steven Reid making the change after his last start third behind Got The Chocolates at Addington.  

Prices win 50th

Katrina and John Price brought up their 50th training win in partnership when Chicago Sky won for driver Brent Barclay at Winton last Thursday. Their  first winner was with Surprise Party in 2013. Trading as Price Bloodstock, the couple is best known for breeding top-line pacers and trotters including Republican Party, Chicago Bull and more recently buzz two-year-old Tour Party who is unbeaten with four wins from four starts.

Vessem off to North America

Vincent five-year-old Vessem will do his future racing overseas. An 11-race winner he started off with Mark and Nathan Purdon before debuting for Hayden and Amanda Cullen in October last year. His most recent victory was the Northern Southland Cup in March this year. He will be based in Canada.

Ben wins again 

Kiwi bred Mossdale Ben has won again in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers in New York. It was his second success in the series after he won earlier this month in a sizzling 1:50.1. The series will have another round of heats next week before the $200,000 final on May 8. Mossdale Ben has now won 21 races. He's currently the second highest earning horse in North America this year with stakes of $US110,000. 

Max delight in Western Australia  

Max Delight tipped over the $2m mark in lifetime earnings with his win in the $1.25m The Nullabor at Gloucester Park last Friday night. Paying $19, the veteran pacer upset the likes of hotshots Magnificent Storm and Minstrel in what was his 38th career victory. It was trainer David Aitken's 34th Group 1 and the fourth for driver Will Rixon.

Second win for Pinseeker

Pinseeker has had his second Australian win at Menangle this campaign with the Luke McCarthy trained and driven pacer taking out the Ultra Air Conditioning Pace on Saturday night ahead of another former Kiwi in Chase A Dream. It's the six-year-old gelding's 11th career victory. He headed to Australia in February this year.

Sixth win for Lou's Deal

Lou's Deal has been a great horse for southern trainer-driver Rebecca Heads. She had her first driving success since 2019 when she won at big odds ($30) with the eight-year-old gelding at Winton last Thursday. She also owns and trains the son of Sweet Lou. He has now won six from 62 starts, with Heads' other two training success coming with Spells Of Love who lines up in race 5 at Invercargill tomorrow (Thursday).

Sires' Stakes update 

The remarkable story of Donna Boy's plus all the latest news and views are in this week's Sires' Stakes update.

To read the newsletter click here 

Williamson's big night

Matthew Williamson was the big winner at Otago's annual harness awards night over the weekend. The Oamaru-based Williamson won Driver (81 wins) and Trainer (35 wins) of the Year while his five-year-old mare Princess Sadie was judged Horse of the Year after a 2025 that saw her win five from 12 starts including the Group 3 The Dark Horse at Invercargill.

Track and Facility Manager vacancy at Timaru

The Timaru Racecourse Trustees have a vacancy for a Track and Facility Manager based at Phar Lap Raceway. The manager is responsible for the maintenance and management of the course proper, training tracks and grounds at Phar Lap Raceway and will be involved in liaison with various stakeholders including NZTR, Harness Racing NZ, RIB, Trainers and others to ensure the respective Club is best prepared for race days and events. The successful candidate must be able to work flexible hours, be able to work well under pressure and possess a positive, proactive and professional approach.If needed, accommodation could be provided for the successful candidate.
 
For more information, please contact Richard White - Secretary of the Racecourse Trustees tangible@farmside.co.nz. Phone 021 737 728 or Mary Gazzard - South Canterbury Racing Club Secretary & Racing Manager marylg@xtra.co.nz. Phone 027 416 9560