News Briefs – September 30

Champ back for trotting feature

The Canterbury Park Trotting Cup has featured some legends over the years,with winners including I Can Doosit, Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, and Sundon (1992) since it was first run in 1963. And adding interest to Friday’s race at Addington is the return of last year’s Dominion winner Habibi Inta, who hasn’t raced since December last year.

Bettor’s Heart on the move

Ladyship Mile winner Bettor’s Heart has left the country and will be based in New Jersey. Trained by Peter Bagrie the now seven-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare had a record of seven wins from 41 starts. Her biggest win was for driver John Dunn at Menangle in February when she won the Ladyship Mile in 1:49.7. It’s believed she’ll race in the United States before returning here to start her career as a broodmare.

Draw against Ride High at Melton

Aussie pacing sensation Ride High faces a huge test a week out from the Victoria Cup. The powerhouse son of Art Major will start from outside the back row (gate 11) in the $50,000 Group 2 Smoken Up Sprint at Melton on Saturday night. Despite the draw, Ride High, who has won 16 of 17 starts, opened $1.25 favourite with the Aussie TAB from Cruz ($5.50) and Code Bailey ($7).

New addition to Woodlands roster

Woodlands Stud has secured Pastor Stephen, a full brother to trotting sire Father Patrick. He will be available via frozen semen this season and fresh chilled semen from 2021-22. Named after a Presbyterian Minister, Pastor Stephen was the 2010 Dan Patch two-year-old trotting colt of the year in North America. After being successful as a stallion in Europe, Pastor Stephen was recently purchased by the Kentucky-based Taylor Made Stallions, joining Lazarus, What The Hill and Lather Up.

Club News :

Auckland Trotting Club :

The next two race nights at Alexandra Park will see a clash of the 4YO Trotters looking to take the honours in the PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Trot on Friday 9th October and then 2 weeks later in the Haras des Trotteurs Sires Stakes Trotters Championship.

At the end of October the ATC will host the final for Magness Benrow Sires Stakes 3 YO Fillies after having had heats earlier in the month

The ATC launched their packages for Christmas at the Races 2020 at Alexandra Park this week.

Methven Trotting Club :

The Methven Trotting Club committee are busy preparing for their big meeting of the season on Sunday October 11 at the beautiful Mt. Harding racecourse. Feature races are the 3000m Alabar Methven Cup (a lead up to November’s New Zealand Trotting Cup) and the 2400m What The Hill Fillies and Mares Handicap Trot. Both should be great races giving locals a rare chance to see some of the country’s top horseflesh.

The theme for the day will be lending a helping hand to two Methven youngsters in brothers Lincoln (Two Years of age) and Harlan McLeod (three months) who both have been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy a form of motor neurone disease.

Like the rest of the Mid Canterbury community the Trotting Club is committed to help making every precious moment as memorable as possible for both the boys and their parents. With this in mind we will be asking patrons to consider donating a gold coin at the gate. We will also be collecting around the stables and on course. Anyone wanting to donate should contact secretary Penny Coleman on the day. Thank you all in advance for your generosity.

In other exciting news the club’s development adjacent to the back straight goes into full swing this weekend with eleven sections of various sizes going on the market. Again Penny is the contact.

A new race this year for the club will be The Green Derby for 3 year old pacers over 2300 m mobile worth $15,000. It’s the brain child of committeeman Lawrence Hanrahan and has been scheduled for our January 31 meeting. More details to follow. In the meantime hope to see you all at Methven racecourse Sunday week where remember the sun always shines !

Mike Heenan for Methven Trotting Club