News Briefs - Sept 23

RJ hits 2300 career wins, Dex prepares for the LBJ, Akuta gets ready for retirement, and an in-form trotter heads to the USA in this week's News Briefs.  

2300 wins for RJ

One win brought up a double milestone for Robert Dunn last Friday. When Hoof It Hagrid and driver Riley Harrison won at Addington on Friday night it brought up training win number 2300 for Dunn, and also 100 wins in 2026 for Robert and training partner (and daughter-in-law) Jenna Dunn. It's the fourth year in a row that they have had 100 wins or more in a season. They are currently leading the premiership, 26 wins clear of nearest challengers Steve and Amanda Telfer. They look set to win the premiership for the third time, following on from 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile Team Dunn's top driver John has 86 wins for the season and is second in the premiership behind Blair Orange on 120 while brother Dexter Dunn is the highest earning driver in North America this year with 227 wins and $11.4m in stakes, including victory with Brandon Blvd in 1:48 in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series Final at the famed Red Mile over the weekend. Dunn is a five-time USA Driver of the Year and is poised to win a sixth, with Yannick Gingras now second ($10m) and Jason Bartlett ($9.8m) third. Dunn will also be involved in one of the great American races, the Little Brown Jug in Delaware this week. He'll drive Thai Hanover in one of the two heats, with the first four from each going through to the $550,000 final later the same day.    

Dunns' bargain buy

What a bargain buy Ya Rite Darl is turning out to be for the Dunns' Diamond Racing. A winner of the Jasymn's Gift at her last start in Oamaru, Ya Rite Darl was a $8000 purchase at the 2022 NZB National Weaning Sale and has now accrued more than $350,000 in stakes with 10 wins from 33 starts. Her next assignment will be the D G Jones Banks Peninsula Cup at Addington this Friday, with the winner automatically qualifying for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 10.

Akuta's Life After Racing
 
Former superstar Akuta is now officially getting readied for his Life After Racing. The millionaire pacer has joined educator and trainer Jo Ferguson as part of HRNZ's HERO programme (Harness Education and Re-homing Opportunities).  When he's been re-educated to saddle he will then head off to his new (retired) life. The winner of 18 races Akuta, a multiple Group 1 winner, was a crowd favourite with his explosive speed and was retired in July this year.

Next Gen deadline approaching

Harness Racing New Zealand is reminding owners and trainers that the deadline for notification of eligible Next Gen trainers and ownership groups is October 1, 2026. For horses purchased at the 2026 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales, HRNZ must be notified of the eligible trainer details and ownership group by this date. Full eligibility criteria and Terms and Conditions for the Next Gen scheme are available on the HRNZ website. For transfers of ownership please contact [email protected], or for all other enquiries, contact [email protected].

Top trial for top mare

Star mare Captains Mistress has warmed up for some juicy assignments ahead with a fast-finishing trial at Menangle. The Inter Dominion champion was only asked for an effort late over the 1609 metres, finishing second to stablemate Dangerous who cut out the mile in 1:49.8. Captains Mistress was about five lengths behind, with dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee third. Captain Mistress' next big target is the Victoria Cup on October 1 and then the Kaikoura Cup on November 2. So far in 2026 Captains Mistress has won 12 of 13 starts and over $1.3m.

Trotter off to USA

In-form northern trotter Viscount Mackendon will do his future racing in North America. Trained by Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, the Volstead five-year-old won three in a row during June and July, and six races overall from 37 starts. He headed off to the USA earlier this month.  

Kiwi-breds excels in North America

The last week has seen of plenty of Kiwi-breds starring in North America, with Group 1-winner Christopher Dance topping $300,000 in earnings with his 1:49.2 win in Chester Pennsylvania. He has now won 18 of 37 career starts while Kiwi-bred mare Remy Brown has had a winning debut in Delaware. The 7YO Vincent mare cleared out by over three lengths at the Harrington Raceway to win in 1:53.2. The win was one of seven on the night for driver Brandon Givens. It's Remy Brown's fifth win this year and 23rd overall. Bred by Trevor Casey, the mare had three placings from four starts in this country before heading to Australia in 2023. And fellow Kiwi-bred Tualou registered a new personal best, winning in Plainville Massachusetts in 1:50. The Sweet Lou gelding had one win from three starts in this country before heading to Australia in 2024 where he had nine more victories before going to the USA.

Success on and off the track for US Captain  

It's been a big week for New Zealand-based stallion US Captain. He had his first New Zealand foal last Thursday at Wai Eyre Farm in North Canterbury where he stands for $3000 plus GST for New Zealand breeders. He served 94 mares in New Zealand last season. US Captain was a 22-race winner in North America, pacing 16 sub-1:50 miles. He is by Captaintreacherous out of American Jewel. He was purchased outright by Wai Eyre Farm and the Southland-based Macca Lodge. In the last week two-year-old US Captain gelding Hawaiian Warfare has also won in Delaware to post his fourth win in a row from five career starts.

Club News : Ashburton

The Ashburton Trotting Club's stallion service auction closes this Friday (Sept 25). Those interested can bid on getting a service to Gimpanzee, Royal Aspirations, Krug and/or Habibi Inta. The Club would like to thank Dancingonmoonlight and Phoebe Stud for their generous support. All bids can be made : [email protected] or contact the club for more details.