News Briefs - September 9

Northern stars back at the trials, Tarragindi heading south and a record-equalling effort across the Tasman all feature in this week's News Briefs.

Vale Ned Black 

Long-time trainer/driver Stephen Francis Black, better known as Ned, will be farewelled this week. After growing up in Marlborough he went to work for Alex Townley in Southland as a 15-year-old and then later worked for Harry Cox in Wyndham. Over the years he trained at a number of places including Rangiora and Auckland and had a brief stint in New South Wales. He had 29 wins as a driver, starting with John Peel in Nelson in 1966. He started training in 1970, and had 13 wins. His last success as a trainer/driver was with Laxton in Marlborough in 1996. He was not licensed from 2003 and from the 2007 season onwards worked for George Timperley at Motu Lodge. A celebration of Ned's life will be held at Wai-mana, 92 Kippenberger Avenue, Rangiora, tomorrow (September 10) at 2.30pm. He was 77. 

Northern pacers back at workouts

The first two Kiwi pacers home in last year's New Zealand Cup have been back at the workouts. Merlin and Better Knuckle Up were third and fourth at Addington last year behind Kingman and Leap To Fame. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained stablemates were the only starters in their workout at Pukekohe with Merlin winning by a head for Zachary Butcher, with a 58 second last 800 metres. Merlin's last start was a 10th in the $1m The Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge in April won in commanding fashion by Leap To Fame while Better Knuckle Up's last race was a sixth in the Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park in May. Both have been nominated again for the New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 10 with Merlin at $34 with the TAB and Better Knuckle Up at $41.

Another chapter for Dex

Kiwi superstar Dexter Dunn will be vying for another big-time victory in New York this weekend. He will take the reins behind Super Chapter in the $1m MGM Yonkers International. The Marcus Melander trained five-year-old comes into the race in great form, having won the Maple Leaf Trot at Ontario over the weekend. The son of Chapter Seven has won over $3m and has only been out of money three times in 31 career starts. Dunn is in red hot form as well in 2026, making a habit of winning big money races week in week out. He has won 204 races this year with stakes earnings of $8.83m, placing him second just behind Jason Bartlett (426 wins and $8.85m). 

Dunns hit 600

Back home Dexter's high-achieving family is also on a roll. When Daisy Bay won at Alexandra Park on Friday night it gave Robert and Jenna Dunn their 600th success in partnership. The successful driver was Dexter's nephew Jacob. On the same night Mighty Logan won the ITM Ordeal Cup at Addington for Dexter's brother John. sealing his place in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot. Team Dunn have had 97 wins this year and lead the premiership, 26 clear of Steve and Amanda Telfer. John Dunn is second in the Drivers premiership with 82, with Blair Orange well clear on 113.  

Tarragindi on the move

Classy performer Tarragindi has moved south from Phil Williamson at Oamaru to son Nathan in Southland. The four-year-old last raced in Phil's colours when finishing second at Oamaru on August 16 in the Kurow Trotters Cup won by Swift Dream. Nathan was driving that day and will train the gelding from his base at Branxholme. As well as his seven wins from 19 starts, Tarragindi was also good enough to run second behind Meant To Be in the 2024 Sires' Stakes Series 2YO Championship at Addington.

The Queen's Gambit makes all the right moves

A two-race winner in 17 starts for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in this country, The Queen's Gambit has impressed in her first Aussie start. The Captain Crunch three-year-old overcame a wide draw to win at Menangle last week by more than five lengths for trainer Jason Grimson. Owned and part-bred by Mick Harvey, of NZ Cup winner Kingman fame, The Queen's Gambit moved across the Tasman in July.

Record-equalling haul in NSW

Tasmyn Potter had a night to remember at Riverina Paceway in New South Wales last Friday, with six winners and a third from her seven drives on the night. The 24-year-old's haul equalled the Australian record for the most winners driven by a female driver at a single meeting, joining Kerryn Manning and Dani Hill. Manning was the first to do it in 2000 and has done it three times in total while Hill has driven six winners at a meeting on five occasions. In this country the most winners by a female driver at one meeting is five. Natalie Rasmussen achieved it three times, as has Sam Ottley, while Kate Coppins has done it once, at Hawera on January 18, 2026.

Horse Ambulance's 2026 fund-raiser 

The New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust has benefitted to the tune of nearly $49,000 from its August fund-raiser.  The campaign celebrated the NZHAT's 10th anniversary. The Trust operates 10 custom-built ambulances across the country at a cost of around $600,000 per year. The proceeds from the annual fund-raiser goes towards funding deprecation and funding reserves. The NZHAT would like to thank the many people who supported them during August as well as Addington Raceway, Te Rapa Racing, Alexandra Park, WTR at Cambridge Racecourse, Cambridge Raceway and Riccarton Park Racecourse for giving the Trust the opportunity to raise awareness through race sponsorships. 

Auction closes tonight

The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7pm tonight with a number of race winners up for sale including two Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained pacers Lasa (4  wins) and Sugar Babe (3 wins) and Rockingood who has won three for Benny Hill. In all there are 10 lots, with Sugar Babe attracting the most interest of late at $6250.   

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