News Briefs : June 19

Vale Herb Stent

Harness Racing New Zealand would like to send its condolences to the family of Herb Stent, who died in Palmerston North earlier this week. He had 19 wins as a driver, and 38 as a trainer, between the 1960s and 2007. Among his best horses were five-race winners Billy Sundon and Emanuella Chips. A hobby trainer, Stent was a plumber by trade who was also heavily involved in the sport's administration. He was a long-standing committee member at the Manawatu Harness Racing Club and also served terms as club president and patron. His funeral will be held at the Beauchamp Chapel, 167 John F Kennedy Drive, Palmerston North at 10am tomorrow (Thursday). He was 85.

Nominations closing soon for Industry Excellence Awards

The deadline is fast approaching for nominations for the Industry Excellence Awards, powered by Entain, to recognise the future leaders and rising stars of the New Zealand racing industry. Awards are up for grabs in a total of nine categories, with a supreme winner chosen from the category award winners. Nominations close this Sunday, 23 June. Category winners will receive $10,000 with finalists in each category receiving $2,000. The supreme winner will receive an extra $5,000 on top of their $10,000 category win and a $5,000 educational package. The awards function will be held in Auckland on Sunday, 28 July. Information on the awards, including the nomination template and the terms and conditions, can be found here

Orange now four clear

Blair Orange has cleared out to a four win lead in the drivers' premiership. The six-time champion has 90 wins in 2024, four ahead of John Dunn on 86. Orange had wins at Addington on Friday (Renaldo) and Sunday (Salvo) plus a double at Invercargill on Saturday (Del's Creation and Salvo) while Dunn had just one the one win over the weekend, with Special Effects at Addington on Sunday.

Magic Sign wins southern comp

Magic Sign has won the "Iron Horse" competition in Southland after having the most starts at Ascot Park for the 2023/24 season. Trained by Jeremy Douglas, Magic Sign won the $5000 first prize after starting in all 13 races at Ascot Park during the qualification period (September 15, 2023 - June 15 2024). The only other criteria was that the horse had to win during that time. Magic Sign won twice, both in April. The series, set up to encourage horses to race more often at Ascot Park, has been a success and is likely to continue in future seasons. The next nine horses in the competition - Durrant, Jenny Gump, Joanie Magic, American Mac, Sherwood Maggie, Superfast, Franco Huntington, Sagwitch and Magnetic Becker - each won $2,500.

Kiwis to fore in Canada

The old firm was back at Milton in Ontario over the weekend with the driver-trainer Dexter Dunn-Chris Ryder combo taking out the $305,000 Roses Are Red final at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The four-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe cruised to victory in 1:48.
"She's a powerhouse," Ryder said post race.
The two ex-pat Kiwis also share in the ownership of Twin B Joe Fresh, who has now won three races from four starts this season and 22 races from 31 overall. It was Dunn's 81st win in North America this year.

Another win for Tango Tara

Tango Tara has gone past $350,000 in stakes earnings with his 16th career success in the Del Re National Italian Cup at Melton on Saturday night. Driven by Kate Gath, it was the eight-year-old's first win at Melton since April last year with trainer Andy Gath grabbing the quinella with Yambukian. Tango Tara paid $9 for the win. Trained and driven by Jimmy Curtin, Tango Tara finished 12th in the 2020 New Zealand Cup by Self Assured, and headed across the Tasman in May 2021 after winning six from 32 in New Zealand.

Gold Ace double at Addington

The progeny of millionaire pacer Gold Ace had a good day at Addington on Sunday. Both Fernz Goldy (Gold Ace - Fernleigh Hannah) and Acento (Gold Ace - Mollie Mach) had wins at the meeting. Gold Ace progeny have now had 10 wins from 200 starts this year. A former top three-year-old Gold Ace won 11 races in total and $1.2m in stakes. Gold Ace stands for $1000 at Ross Cameron's place just outside Christchurch at Coes Ford.