News Briefs - September 23

The Box Seat is back

Today marks the return of harness racing show The Box Seat. The Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin-hosted show will be recorded weekly and will be played on Trackside at various times, including 10am every Thursday morning. It will also be available at hrnz.co.nz. The popular show will review the week’s best action and also look ahead to what’s coming up with meetings this week at Winton (Thursday), Auckland and Addington (Friday) and Banks Peninsula (Sunday).

Arden Messi sold

Three-win pacer Arden Messi has been sold and will do his future racing in the United States. The four-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight won three of seven starts for trainer Grant Payne, including an impressive last start victory at Addington on September 11.

Magical Mali moving on

Three starts ago John Dunn drove Magical Mali to victory at Addington at odds of 30-to one. Now the five-year-old is being transferred from owner-breeder Kevin Fairbairn’s barn to the Dunn stable at Woodend. Since Magical Mali’s first and only win the horse was pulled up at Methven and then finished eighth at Addington on September 17. Fairbairn is currently recovering from recent hip surgery.

Teaz hits the half ton

Harness racing personality Jason Teaz clocked up his 50th training success after a double at Cambridge on Sunday. The commentator-tipster-trainer was successful with Hezashadowplaya ($12.10) and Brookies Jaffa ($18.10). Eleven of his 50 wins were when he trained on his own (2003-11) but the last 39 have been in partnership with wife Megan from their establishment at Ohaupo in the Waikato.

Milestone for Little Brown Jug

The 75th running of the Little Brown Jug – the Great American harness race – will be held in Ohio this week. 14 horses will be involved in two eliminations with the top four finishers in each going through to the final. 10-time Kiwi champion Dexter Dunn is listed to drive Seeyou At Thebeach in the first elimination, and either Major Betts or Capt Midnight in the second.