News Briefs - August 19

The re-location of "The Hambo" to Indiana, the death of a trotting great, Mo'unga's Maurice Holmes Vase defence, and 100 wins for Shane Matheson all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Hambo on the move 

Dexter Dunn's win in America's great race The Hambletonian will be the last at The Meadowlands, as it turns out. Earlier this month Dunn won "The Hambo" with Apex by a nose in a new record time. Now it's been decided that the 3YO Trotting Classic will move from The Big M in New Jersey to Harrah's Hoosier in Anderson, Indiana. "The Hambo" has been held in New Jersey for the past 46 years. It was Dunn's first win in the race. The 10-time Kiwi champion, who's been a five-time USA Driver of the Year, is having a stellar 2026 with 171 wins and $7.1m in stakes so far, placing him third behind Jason Bartlett and Yannick Gingras. Among those watching Dexter's heroics in "The Hambo" was nephew Jacob Dunn. He had three months in North America, mainly at Nifty Norman's stables in New Jersey and is now back home. He will have a couple of drives at Cambridge on Friday. 

Vale Varenne 

Varenne, Italy's most famous horse and one of the world's greatest ever trotters, has died, aged 31 of a heart attack. The winner of 62 races from 73 starts and $12m in prize money between 1998-2002, The Captain, as he was known, made history by being named Horse of the Year in Italy, France and the USA. Giampaolo Mannucci, who was Italy's representative at last year's World Driving Championship around New Zealand, drove Varenne in most of his races and once said of the horse - "he was a Ferrari with a brain."     

Sweet Lou's arrival delayed

Woodlands Stud advises breeders that champion stallion Sweet Lou has had a short delay to his arrival in New Zealand ahead of the upcoming breeding season after becoming acutely lame in a hind leg while awaiting departure in the quarantine facility in North America. The lameness was identified quickly and Sweet Lou has received the best veterinary care and attention since. Sweet Lou is now booked to fly to New Zealand on Saturday, September 5, where he will complete his required two-week quarantine before arriving at Woodlands Stud. He is expected to be on farm and available for breeding duties from Monday, September 21.
For New Zealand breeders, frozen semen is available should it be required during the two weeks Sweet Lou is unavailable. 

Mo'unga returns to defend his title

Mo'unga is vying to become just the second pacer to go back-to-back in this Friday's Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington. The Allied Security-sponsored Group 3 is an automatic qualifier for the New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 10. Mo'unga, the 2025 champion, will line up against the likes of The Lazarus Effect and Dreams Are Free this week. He will again be driven by Robbie Close who's chasing a trick of wins in the race, after saluting with Mo'unga last year and Dalton Shard in 2024. The only horse to have won consecutive Vases is Christen Me (2014-15), driven by Dexter Dunn. The race has been held since 2012 with Dunn winning four of the first five editions. Just two horses have won the Vase and then gone on to win the NZ Cup - they are Self Assured (2020) and Thefixer (2018).

Punk rules ok  

Heza Punk Rocker is becoming the latest Kiwi-bred horse to flourish under Jason Grimson's training. The gelding, known here as Punk Rocker, had two wins in this country for Sheree Wigg before heading across the Tasman in 2023. His last five starts have been for Grimson and he has won four of them including a last start win in 1:50.4 at Albion Park. Grimson of course has an incredible track record with Kiwi-breds, none more so than his latest superstar Captains Mistress who has won 12 of her last 13 starts in Australia, headlined by her victory in the Inter Dominion Pacing Final over Leap To Fame. 

100 for southern trainer 

Shane Matheson secured his 100th training win when Tua Lipa won for driver Sam Ottley at Oamaru on Sunday. It was the Gore-based trainer's fourth win this year, with his first ever winner being Little Miss Watch at Gore in 1991. His best season so far wins-wise was the 11 he had in 2019. 

Sires' Stakes latest news 

The second half of the Sires’ Stakes Season bursts back into life this Friday night with a double‑header of fillies’ features — and both races promise fresh storylines, new talent, and familiar powerhouse stables ready to make their presence felt early.

To read more click here 

March 20 for HRNZ awards 

HRNZ's annual awards for the 2026 season will now be held at Addington Raceway on Saturday, March 20 2027, a week later than originally advertised. This is to avoid a clash with some key Australian racing including the Miracle Mile in Sydney. All enquiries should be direct to courtney@hrnz.co.nz

Club News - Wyndham 

The Wyndham Harness Racing Club's meeting set down for Thursday, October 1 will now be run at Gore. Young Quinn Raceway at Wyndham was severely damaged by high winds late last year and its meetings have been transferred to neighbouring courses in Southland ever since.