News Briefs - June 4

Progress on the new feature race calendar, the Telfers' brilliant run of form, an Aussie star confirmed for the AYDC and the upcoming Weanling Sale all feature in this week's News Briefs. 

HRNZ's Feature race calendar 

HRNZ's final feature race calendar for the 2025/26 season is nearing completion and will be released in due course after a consultation process and then approval by the HRNZ Board. All dates are subject to change but HRNZ would like to give trainers advance notice of some of the feature races that will be held in the early part of the season.

Open Pacers:

National Handicap – 08/08/25 @ Addington
Maurice Holmes Vase – 22/08/25 @ Addington
 
Open Trotters
Basil Dean Trotting FFA – 22/08/25 @ Addington
 
3YO Pacers:
Ian Dobson Memorial – Johnny Globe Classic – 05/09/25 @ Addington
 
3YO Trotters:
3YO Sires Stakes Trotting Fillies Classique – 19/09/25 @ Addington
Hambletonian Classic – 27/10/25 @ Ashburton

2YO Fillies:
Diamond Creek 2YO Juvenile Stakes - 14/09/25 @ Oamaru 
Harness Million – 10/10/25 @ Addington
 
2YO Colts and Geldings:
Diamond Creek 2YO Juvenile Stakes - 14/09/25 @ Oamaru 
Harness Million – 10/10/25 @ Addington

2YO Trotters:
Entain 2YO Trot - 26/09/25 @ Addington 
 
North Island:

Northern 3YO Stakes – likely 05/09/25 @ Alexandra Park
NI Juvenile Trotting Championship (2YO) – likely 12/09/25 @ Alexandra Park
Spring Cup – likely 19/09/25 @ Alexandra Park  
Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Final -  likely 19/09/25 @ Alexandra Park 

For any enquiries contact matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz

Telfers surge in trainers' premiership  

The trainers' premiership has been turned on its head after a month to remember for Steve and Amanda Telfer and the Stonewall Stud team. They had 27 wins in May including that one huge Friday night (May 23) when they had seven winners at Auckland and Addington. In April the Telfers trailed runaway leader Michael House by as many as 32 wins. Now the Telfers have 66 wins for the year to be just three behind House (69). The Telfers are now at $1.15 to win the premiership this year with House at $3.80 and last year's top trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn at $21.

Allamericanplayer into elite club 

One of the Telfers' star performers of late Allamericanplayer joined a select group to win the Welcome Stakes - Sapling Stakes double when he took out the Group 2 feature at Ashburton on Sunday. On both occasions he upset hot favourite Fugitive. Allamericanplayer, who has won three of seven career starts, joins other Welcome-Sapling Stakes winners including the likes of Lordship (1961) and Noodlum (1974).  Allamericanplayer was a $155,000 purchase at the 2024 NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka.

Leap To Fame poised to be richest ever

Leap To Fame's statistics are truly remarkable. On Saturday he had his 51st win in 64 starts. That's a nearly 80 per cent strike rate and the highest of Australasia's four $4m earners. Lazarus is next at 72.5 per cent followed by Blacks A Fake and Im Themightyquinn.  If Leap To Fame wins the $1m Inter Dominion final at Albion Park in July he'll eclipse Blacks A Fake as the richest Australasian pacer of all time. Currently he is at $AUD4,028,330 with Blacks A Fake at $4,575,438. 

Turnbull to take on Kiwis 

Australian whizz kid Jett Turnbull has been confirmed for this July's Australasian Young Drivers Championships in Queensland. The 17-year-old, who recently brought up his 300th career success, has been selected as New South Wales' representative in the AYDC. New Zealand's four representatives will be Carter Dalgety, Harrison Orange, Sam Thornley and Wilson House.

Youngsters on the move 

Top northern three-year-old Runkle Crunch will join the stable of Aiden de Campo and will do his immediate racing in Western Australia. A four-race winner for Brian and Gareth Hughes, Runkle Crunch was also fourth in the Northern Derby won by the all-conquering Marketplace.  Among Hughes' other promising types is Nymbal who was second on debut behind Fitzroy at Cambridge on May 22. Formerly trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon, Fitzroy has been exported and will do his future racing in Queensland.

Submissions close Friday 

Written submissions for the Independent Review Panel looking into the Final of the Young Guns 2YO Trot Final held at Alexandra Park on May 10 close this Friday, June 6. They can be sent by email to review@hrnz.co.nz. The Panel will meet on June 9 and 10 to consider the submissions and also speak with people directly connected to arranging and participating in the race. The review is examining the application and communication of race conditions, the regulatory framework underpinning such race series, and broader issues of fairness, process integrity, and stakeholder confidence.

Date change for Silk Road final 

A change of date has been made for the Silk Road Northern Fillies and Mares Trotters Series No 1 Final at Alexandra Park. Originally scheduled for Friday, June 27 it will now be held a week later to avoid a clash with the June Metro Series Heats and Finals. The Metro Trotters and Pacers Finals will be held on Friday, June 27 with the Silk Road Final on Friday, July 4. A number of horses could potentially qualify for both finals.

Three weeks to NZB Weanling Sale 

The NZB Standardbred National Weanling sale is now only three weeks' away. To be held at Karaka on Thursday, June 26 the sale will start at 2.30pm and feature a total of 89 lots and includes three yearlings. The sale will be held after the National Weanling sale for the thoroughbreds, which starts at 10am. Its the first time the two sales have been held on the same day.

To see the catalogue click here