News Briefs - July 1

Vin Nally farewelled in Invercargill, a new Friday night turnover record and Jacob Dunn in action in the USA all feature in this week's News Briefs. 

Vale Vin Nally

HRNZ would like to send its condolences to the family of Southland owner-breeder Vin Nally, who died last week. He was farewelled in Invercargill yesterday. A founding member of the Dolomite Syndicate, HRNZ records show that Nally bred or co-bred more than 60 horses including the likes of Scarrymcleary who won 21 races on both sides of the Tasman, Groomsman (10 wins) and Maidonthebeach (9 wins). In recent years he was a driver-operator of the horse ambulance in the deep south. Nally was also a good rugby player playing for Marist seniors in Invercargill and represented Southland as a loose forward in the 1960-70s. Vin Nally's grandson Tom is carrying on the family's involvement in the sport. He drove 23 winners in this country before relocating to Western Australia in 2024. Vin Nally was 82.

New turnover record  

Friday night turnovers continue to hit record numbers. Last Friday's turnover at Addington and Cambridge was a combined $1.96m, eclipsing the old winter Friday night record set just the week previously by around $600K. Alexandra Park's turnover was $878K while Addington was $1.07m. Both recorded big increases when compared to last year. Turnover for the week totalled just under $3.4m, up 11% on last year. The uptick in turnovers follows a recent decision to change winter racing in the north, with just one weekly meeting every Friday at either Alexandra Park or Cambridge. This week's Friday Night Lights will be at Cambridge and Addington.

Halfway through 2026

The season is now halfway through and what a six months it's been for the Dunns' Diamond Racing. After six months Robert and Jenna Dunn are on 81 wins to be a clear-cut leader of the trainers' premiership, 26 ahead of Steve and Amanda Telfer (55). And in the drivers' premiership John Dunn has 73 wins to be second, trailing eight time champion Blair Orange by 11 (84). He had a treble at Addington on Friday night plus another win at the same venue on Sunday with Flying Dreams. Carter Dalgety is next on 51 making him the leading junior driver by 10 from Wilson House. Trained by the Dunns, the leading horse this year wins-wise is Bruntwood Brigade with eight with Jumal, Rock Lobster and Melton Mogul all having six wins.

Jacob joins Dexter in USA 

At the same time as their family is excelling at home Dexter has been joined by Jacob Dunn in North America. Dexter, a five time USA Driver of the Year, has 74 wins in 2026 and $2.8m in stakes. He is currently 11th overall with last year's Driver of the Year Jason Bartlett again out front with $5.7m (310 wins). Dunn's most notable win of late was with 2024 Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh who he co-owns along with ex-pat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder. She won at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:48.4. And now John and Jenna's son and Dexter's nephew Jacob Dunn is in the USA as well. Just this week he drove in three qualifiers at Harrah's Philadelphia. In one of them both Dunns were in the same qualifier, with Dexter finishing second and Jacob fourth.   

Bulldog available again

The fastest standardbred in history Bulldog Hanover will be available to New Zealand breeders again this season. He made history when driven by Dexter Dunn to win at the Meadowlands in 1:45.8. He was the first ever to break 1:46. He will be available through Dancingonmoonlight in North Canterbury by way of frozen semen only, for $10,000. For more information contact sam@dancingonmoonlight.co.nz

Yearling entries open

Entries open today for next year's NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sale via the NZB Standardbred portal. The sales will be held at Karaka on Monday, February 15 and then in Christchurch on Wednesday, February 17. For more information click here

400 for Craig Ferguson

Southland trainer-driver Craig Ferguson had his 400th win in the sulky when the Regan Todd-trained Franco Lomu justified his hot favouritism by winning at Addington on Friday night. Ferguson's first win was as a junior driver with Lucy Legacy at Forbury Park in 2010, with his best seasons being the 48 wins he had in both 2023 and 2024. He is also the regular driver of star four-year-old Marketplace who was an emphatic winner for Luke McCarthy at Albion Park in Brisbane on Saturday night, ahead of this weekend's $300,000 The Rising Sun.

Two from two for Nymbal 

Kiwi import Nymbal has well and truly put himself into calculations for the $300,000 Rising Sun (2138m) at Albion Park this coming Saturday after extending his unbeaten sequence to two in Australia. Nymbal was purchased out of their 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale draft at Karaka for $77,500, and the son of Lazarus went on to win one of his 11 starts for Brian and Gareth Hughes. Following his fifth placing in the Group 1 Northern Derby (2700m) at Alexandra Park last month, Nymbal was purchased by Australian trainer Kerry Ann Morris, and he has now won both his two starts across the Tasman, the Group 3 Redcliffe Derby and the Burwood Stud 3YO Open Pace. Now Nymbal faces his biggest test by taking on Marketplace and co in Saturday's big Group 1.  

Firsties at Addington this Friday
 
Firsties, harness racing's new campaign to encourage race-goers to get on-track, returns to Addington this Friday. The concept is all encouraging those in the 20-40 age group to get involved. They can be newcomers to the sport or friends of people already involved. A friendly crew will be on hand to look after guests. This Friday's event runs from 6-9pm and is free. To register and/or find out about Firsties click here