News Briefs - August 18

Covid update

While there is no racing of any type in this country today because of the escalation to Alert Level 4, harness racing continues across the Tasman with meetings tonight at Bathurst, Ballarat and Redcliffe. Tomorrow’s meetings at Auckland and Winton have also been abandoned.

Auction closes tonight

The latest gavelhouse.com Standardbred auction closes tonight, with nine lots up for sale. Included are Carrera Lucia, who was second two starts ago at Addington, and Donegal Bettorgretch. The now eight-year-old is being sold as a broodmare after a racing career that included seven wins, highlighted by the 3YO Ruby at the 2016 Harness Jewels. The auctions close around 7pm.

200 for Morrison

After clinching his third junior drivers premiership John Morrison has brought up another milestone, his 200th driving success. The West Melton-based driver-trainer drove Tiger Taylor to victory at Addington on Friday night. Morrison had his first win in 2016, with his most wins in a season coming in 2019 (63). He has also trained 12 winners so far.

Victory for Dunn and Really Fast

After their ninth placing at the $1m Hambletonian, Really Fast and Kiwi driver Dexter Dunn have rebounded with a 1:52.3 victory at The Red Mile in Kentucky. It was win number five for the Nancy Takter-trained three-year-old, with Dunn picking up five wins on the day. Really Fast broke during the Hambletonian, with Captain Corey leading all the way.

IDs to go ahead, for now

Despite Covid being out of control in New South Wales, those organizing the next Inter-Dominions are adamant they will proceed. The plan is for Menangle, Newcastle and Bathurst to host the trans-Tasman event in November and December this year. That format may change depending on what happens with the pandemic, though the Menangle Club’s determined to see the event go ahead in some form.

New job for MacKinnon

Ex-pat Kiwi Jack MacKinnon has a new job. He's started as stable foreman with Kate Hargreaves in Victoria, after his previous stint with Anton Golino and Yabby Dam Farms. He moved to Australia in 2018 after working for, among others, Bernie Hackett and Michelle Wallis, and Robert Dunn. “The opportunity came up to go there and give Kate a hand and do some of my own,” he said, “if I was going to do it, I might as well do it now.”