News Briefs - Dec 24

More awards for the Ryder-Dunn combo in the USA, 400 wins for Scott Phelan, and Republican Party's dominant 2025 all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Kiwi wins at Dan Patch awards 

The ex-pat Kiwi training-driving powerhouse that is Chris Ryder and Dexter Dunn have again been to the fore at the annual Dan Patch awards in North America. 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh, who they also co-own, has been named Pacing Mare of the Year while stablemate Miki and Minnie was named on all 133 ballots as the best 3YO female pacer. Both horses are trained by Ryder and were driven by Dunn, with Twin B Joe Fresh winning six of nine starts while Miki and Minnie won 13 of 15 starts in 2025. Pacer, Trotter and Horse of the Year will be announced at a special Dan Patch Awards function in Florida in February. 

Dunn's big 2025  

Speaking of Dexter Dunn, the five-time USA Driver of the Year has had another year to remember in North America. With the season just days away from finishing Dunn has had 278 wins and accrued $14.9m in stakes during 2025. He is the second highest stake earner behind Jason Bartlett at $16.7m. Yannick Gingras is third on $14.8m.

Trotting series heads to Westport 

The second and third heats of the Trevor Craddock Seddon Shields Trotting Series will be at Westport on Boxing Day and December 28. The 10-heat series will be raced around the top half of the South Island before culminating in a $30,000 final at Addington on March 20, 2026. The first heat was held at Kaikoura on November 3. Dreams Pat leads the series on 10 points, from Zoltan Boscik (5), Rush (3), Vertigo (2) and Ready Set Jet (1).

400 training wins for Phelan 

Scott Phelan brought up his 400th training win with Greased Lightnin at the Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton on Sunday. The Vincent three-year-old, trained by Phelan and Barry Purdon, was the day's shortest priced favourite, paying just $1.10. Phelan has had 387 wins in partnership with Purdon dating back to 2008 and 13 on his own account. 

Party like it's 2025  

Republican Party's back-to-back wins in the Invercargill Cup last Friday continues an epic 2025 for the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained star. The win gave son Carter his fifth Group 1 for the year, a record for a junior driver. The win was also in a record 3:19.2, eclipsing the old mark (2700m) set by Pembrook Playboy in 2021 (3:20.2). Republican Party has won eight races and nearly $400,000 in 2025, taking his career earnings over the $1m mark.

Three for What The Hill 

The progeny of What The Hill had a good night at the Golden Gait meeting at Alexandra Park last Friday. They won three races on the card with Ya Rite Darl (Gogirl Bromac), The Four Aces (Regal Volo), and Hillbilly Blues (Experiment) all winning. 

Debut second for RR 

The winner of the inaugural Christian Cullen at Addington last year, Rakero Rocket has finished a game second in his Australian debut. It was a promisng effort by the now Jason Grimson-trained pacer but he couldn't match the brilliance of Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo in the Ultra Air Cup at Menangle. 

Herbie's winning run 

James Herbertson, the Aussie young gun who won the THE ASCENT with Tracy The Jet at Addington during Cup week, just keeps winning. Already a runaway winner of the Australian premiership he won the Australian Drivers Championship in Hobart over the weekend to go with the Australasian Young Drivers Championship he won earlier in the year. This year the 25-year-old has also won races in Europe and the United States.