News Briefs - March 25

A first win for Ollie Gregory, Ya Rite Darl gets the call up for the Trot Slot  and Methven's Horse of the Day winner all feature in this week's News Briefs.

First win for northern junior

After getting his breakthrough win at Cambridge last week, Ollie Gregory will be back in action with the same horse and at the same venue tomorrow (Thursday). Fittingly Gregory's win was with Tinkerbelle, trained by his employers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett. The 19-year-old made the step up to race day driving after a successful stint in Kidz Kartz and going through the HRNZ Cadet Scheme. His first win came at just his fourth attempt.
"It's a relief to win my first," says Gregory, "and it also proved to myself that I can do it."
Gregory said since the win he'd been inundated with well-wishers and that his phone "had blown up". Tomorrow Tinkerbelle will line up in Race 2, the Gavelhouse.com Handicap Trot (6.09pm).  

Purdon/Phelan hit 400  

Barry Purdon has picked up yet another milestone. The country's most successful trainer ever with 2804 wins brought up his 400th in partnership with Scott Phelan when Higher Power won at Alexandra Park on Friday night. They then produced Meant To Be to win the Group 2 Lyell Creek Stakes later in the programme. Their first winner together was Pembrook Benny in 2007. Earlier this month Purdon won a Lifetime Legacy award at the New Zealand Rural Sports awards in Palmerston North.

Ya Rite Darl into Trot Slot

Ya Rite Darl has been confirmed for the $530,000 Trot Slot at Cambridge's Night of Champions on Friday, April 10. The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained four-year-old will take up the Rampant Pty slot following her close up third behind Meant To Be and Oscar Bonavena in the Group 2 Lyell Creek Stakes at Alexandra Park last Friday. The What The Hill mare has so far won nine races from 27 starts.  

Changes to Ruakaka meeting

Due to operational requirements, changes have been made to the Auckland Trotting Club meeting scheduled at Ruakaka on Easter Monday, April 6.
- Nominations now close: Tuesday, 31 March at 12 noon
- Withdrawals now close: Wednesday, 1 April at 9.00am
- Drivers notified: Thursday, 2 April at 9.00am
Participants are advised to take note of these changes and ensure all nominations and withdrawals are submitted in accordance with the revised schedule. Enquiries can be directed to bureau@hrnz.co.nz. HRNZ thanks participants for their co-operation.

Over $250,000 for Team Teal

The final figures are out for Team Teal across both New Zealand and Australia. The annual campaign is all about creating awareness about ovarian cancer and raising funds for research. The campaign ran from February 1 - March 16. In New Zealand just over $31,000 was raised, with Victorian the leading Australian state at $AUD94,854 and New South Wales at $AUD 46,000. The top driver across both countries was Emily Suvaljko with 16 wins with the top Kiwis being Crystal Hackett and Sam Ottley on 10. The trans-Tasman Team Teal total was $NZ260,000. At the weekend Team Teal's founder Duncan McPherson was announced as the 2025 winner of the Gordon Rothacker Medal. It's Victorian harness racing's highest individual honour. McPherson set up Team Teal following the death of his wife from ovarian cancer in 2010.

50 for Hayden Douglas

Hayden Douglas brought up his 50th winner with Heaven's success for trainers Peter and Mitchell Robertson at Addington last Wednesday. Originally from Southland and now working at Matty Williamson's Oamaru stables Douglas' first win was for his father Jeremy Douglas with Magic Sign at Invercargill in April 2024. Since bringing up his 50th win he also won with the Matt Brinsdon-trained Always A Menace at Gore last Thursday.

200 starts for Warloch

There was no fairytale ending for Warloch in his 200th start at Addington last Wednesday. He finished sixth for trainer-driver Michael House in an amateur drivers race. But the durable 12-year-old did become the 23rd horse in this country to bring up the double ton. He has had 19 wins. The dual-gaited and now retired Take After Me has the most career starts, with 420.

Louie Girl unbeaten since May

Kiwi-bred mare Louies Girl has continued her unbeaten run into 2026. Co-bred and trained by Gavin Forbes, Louies Girl (Lord Forbes - One Bad Dream) had seven wins in this country. Her final race here was a win at Winton in May last year. She has not been beaten since. She won six at Yonkers in New York and has opened her 2026 campaign by winning at Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania.

Walner colt crosses the Tasman

The sole Walner colt sold at this year's NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales has now headed across the Tasman to his new home in Victoria. The Walner - Hopeful Beauty colt sold for $150,000 to Jim Connelly and Kyvalley Racing. The other two Walner fillies sold at the Sales went for $290,000 and $220,00 and were sold to Stonewall Stud and the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan Racing Stables.

Club News : Methven

The Methven Trotting Club's Horse of the Day competition has had its second winner. At the start of Sunday's meeting a random horse was drawn. In this case it was Carlin in Race 7. When he won the G and R SEEDS (Junior Drivers) Pace the club paid out on the promotion with $1000 plus a magnum of bubbles to the horse's owners, $300 to trainer Bruce Negus and $200 to driver Mia Holbrough. The first Horse of the Day winner was the Brent and Tim White-trained Forever Miki, driven by Sarah O'Reilly, in December last year.
   
Club News : Addington

Addington's ever popular Owners Night is back this Friday. It will be held in the Silks Room starting at 5pm with their pizza, pasta and salad selection at just $20 person. For more information contact rachel.deegan@addington.co.nz