News Briefs - May 20

Susan Branch to be remembered on Friday night, Dexter Dunn's call-up to one  of the world's greatest races, and a good week for Korbyn Newman all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Susan Branch to be remembered this Friday      

Susan Branch will be remembered at both Alexandra Park and Addington this Friday night. The well-respected and popular driver-trainer died after complications during heart surgery last week. On Friday in Auckland Romeo Foxtrot, who she trained and part owned, will line up in Race 1, the Brandt Handicap Trot. He is now trained by Susan's husband of 42 years, Murray. It will be his first official start as a trainer. And further south the Arna Donnelly-trained Beta Prepare will race in Susan's colours in the Country Cup Championship Final at Addington on Friday night as she was in the horse's ownership group as a syndicate member. Susan Branch was 71.

To see her obituary please click here

Ruby Roe retired

Well-performed mare Ruby Roe has been retired to become a mum. The five-year-old Captaintreacherous mare has been a good performer for trainer-driver Nathan Williamson, with eight wins and 13 placings in 30 starts including a second to Francent in the Group 1 2025 Woodlands Stud Queen of Hearts at Alexandra Park. Her last win was in the Group 3 Wyndham Champagne Stakes in March last year. This year she has had a second and a third from five starts with breeders/owners Katrina and John Price making the decision for her to join  their broodmare band.

Ownership opportunities @ hrnz

For anyone interested in getting involved with racing a horse a reminder that there is an Ownership Opportunities page on the hrnz website. It is regularly updated. Right now there are two colts available.  To see more click here

DD off to Elitloppet

Dexter Dunn has been confirmed for one of the world's greatest races, the Elitloppet in Sweden. The 10-time Kiwi champion will add some more international flavor to Gio Cash who is Swedish-trained, German-bred and Dutch-owned. Dunn, a five-time USA Driver of the Year, will be driving in his second Elitloppet after Stoletheshow in 2023. Gio Cash, the 12th horse to be invited to the prestigious race, has a best time of 1:50.2. So far this year in North America Dunn has 32 wins from 142 drives.

Unbeaten streak goes to 14

2025 Horse of the Year in both the USA and Canada, Beau Jangles has extended his extraordinary career record to 14 wins from 14 starts. His second straight win in 2026, after going 12 from 12 last year, was another crushing display. His time of 1:49.6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario, Canada was a new race record. The undefeated Cattlewash three-year-old's career earnings are approaching $2m.

Another accolade for Kingman

Reigning New Zealand Cup champion Kingman has been named New South Wales Horse of the Year. The Luke McCarthy trained and driven star won seven of his 13 starts during the year. As well as winning the country's biggest race Kingman also took out the Victoria Cup. He also won NSW Aged Entire/Gelding of the Year and Aged Horse of the Year. The awards were held at the Menangle Country Club in Sydney on Sunday.  

Two wins in a week for Newman

What a week it's been for young trainer Korbyn Newman. Firstly he won with Alotoftrouble at Addington last Wednesday and then backed it up with a victory with stablemate Captain Cool in the Woodlands Stud Mobile Pace last Friday. Both were driven by Jonny Cox. For Captain Cool it was his fourth win in 12 starts and Alotoftrouble's second. Fittingly his win came in the Trouble Lodge Trot, with Trouble Lodge's Michael and Diane Heenan breeding the daughter of Superfast Stuart. Newman has now had 12 wins as a trainer from 73 starts, his first was Moons Way in 2021.

National Weanling Sale Catalogue closes tonight  

Bidding at the NZB Standardbred’s 2026 National Online Weanling Sale closes from 6pm tonight.  A total of 44 yearlings are for sale on standardbred.gavelhouse.com. At the moment the top lots are Lot 35, an Art Major - Ideal Reality Colt at $34,000, and Lot 16, an Art Major - Trigirl Brigade filly, at $36,000.

To see the catalogue click here