News Briefs : July 24

Addington fund-raiser "great success"

More than $33,000 was raised for Amanda Higgins and her family at Friday night's dinner and auction at Addington Raceway. The Ashburton horse trainer has been diagnosed with cancer. At Friday's function over $3000 was raised in both ticket sales and raffles with a further $25,000 raised by auction items on the night. A givealittle page has also exceeded $20,000. All funds will go to help support Amanda, her husband Stuart, a former jockey turned farrier, and their three children, twin 16-year-old sons Kaydence and Rylie and their three-year-old daughter Lizzie. Addington Raceway would like to thank everyone who supported the fund-raiser and/or donated prizes, saying the night was a "great success".

800 for Mark Jones

Mark Jones had his 800th career success when Tempo Warrior and Sam Ottley won the Fahey Fence Hire Pace at Addington on Friday night. Jones has now had 779 wins on his own account and 21 with Brendon Hill in the 2020 season. His first winner was Man O Man at Oamaru in 2002, with his best season wins-wise being the 70 he had in 2015. Among his best performers have been two-time Dominion winner Master Lavros, Stylish Memphis and Savea Patrol.

Carter wins twice in USA

Carter Dalgety is making his mark during his North American excursion. The 21-year-old has had two winners, with Handlelikeaporsche at Harrah's Philadelphia and Stonebridge Reef at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. Both are trained by ex-pat Kiwi Chris Ryder. The country's top junior driver is overseas on a working holiday after winning a Valachi Downs Young Achievers Scholarship. He will be in North America for six weeks, staying mainly with his friend and one time mentor, 10-time NZ champion driver Dexter Dunn. Dunn is currently the sixth highest earning driver in North America this year with 121 wins and $3.7m in stakes. Jason Bartlett has won the most ($6.2m) while Aaron Merriman has the most wins (470).

Superstar Legend's winning finale

Superstar Legend was officially retired by trainer Michael House after winning the Kong Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace at Addington on Sunday. It was the nine-year-old's 17th win in 141 starts with House saying it was "doing the right thing by the horse" and ending on a high. Superstar Legend headed to the front for driver Sam Ottley around the mile mark and held on, with Moet Shard producing a big finish to get up for second. Superstar Legend (Rock N Roll Heaven - Badland's Legend) will now head to the broodmare paddock.

Mixed weekend for Whites

Talented trotter Bet N Win has abandoned his Queensland campaign after developing a foot abscess. The David and Stacey White-trained four-year-old won his Australian debut and was targeting the Queensland Trotters Cup next weekend but now it's been decided he's flying home next week. The Whites' luck changed over the weekend though when Major Hot won at Albion Park on Saturday night. They are training the three-year-old while in Aussie for regular trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon. It was his second win in four starts across the Tasman and his fifth overall.

Lucky Mum off to North America

North America awaits the Kiwi-bred Lucky Mum following her dominant win in the A$31,000 Group 3 Queensland Trotters Oaks (2138m) at Albion Park on Friday night. The NZB Standardbred graduate, purchased for $32,500 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale, justified her hot favouritism with a powerful front-running performance to win for trainer Al Barnes and driver Brendan Barnes. The filly is booked to fly to North America and join the Ricky Bucci stable next month. He bought the trotter after she had two wins in 12 starts in this country.

Big win for former southerner

Crunched in from an opening quote of $19 into $1.40 former southerner Duke Of Scotland kept his unbeaten Australian record when he won his third race in a row at Albion Park on Saturday. Bred by the late Lester Smith and developed by Winton trainer Lauren Pearson, the gelding is now trained by Chantal Turpin and driven by husband Pete McMullen. The race was named after his grandfather J C McMullen. It was Pete McMullen's third win in the race.

Breeding expos :

Three free Breeding Expos are taking place this month, starting in Auckland this Saturday. The others are in Christchurch (July 28) and and Invercargill (July 30).

North Island : Saturday July 27, 2.00pm
Garden Bar, Karaka Sales Complex, Auckland
For catering purposes please advise Cathie Shaw - 0274 426 113

Canterbury : Sunday July 28, 11.00am
Terror To Love Lounge, Addington Raceway
There will be 2 x $500 vet packages and other prizes.
For catering purposes please advise Rebecca Mooney, 03 347 7212 or [email protected]

Southland : Tuesday July 30, 4.00pm
Waiau Room, Ascot Park Hotel
For catering purposes please advise Gail Paisley 027 222 1114