News Briefs : September 4

NZ Cup implications across the Tasman

There's a serious IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week “watch” in Aussie racing later this week. It starts on Thursday night when champion trotter Just Believe chases his third win from as many starts this campaign in a strong $30,000 Group 3 John Slack Trotters’ Cup (2200m) at Ballarat that includes Arcee Phoenix and star mare Im Ready Jet. Just Believe is a $1.60 favourite for the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on IRT New Zealand Cup Trotting Cup day on Tuesday, November 12. The spotlight then moves to the huge Menangle meeting on Saturday night where at least three NZ Cup hopefuls will clash in the $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile. Jason Grimson’s latest buzz pacer Major Moth will be favourite from barrier one in his quest to make it four wins from as many starts since joining the stable, along with another Cop hopeful in stablemate District Attorney and Jess Tubbs’ Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse.

Aussie star trotter heading to Dominion?

Superstar French import and Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze may be heading to the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day, on Tuesday, November 12 after all. Initially a campaign was ruled out but now new trainer Andy Gath has confirmed owner Pat Driscoll had asked him to “throw in a nomination” for Callmethebreeze and star mare Im Ready Jet. The glamour pair have both won their only starts for Gath since a split between Driscoll and former trainer Anton Golino. Callmethebreeze showed his class with a fantastic second to Just Believe in the inaugural TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 12.

50th winner for What The Hill

Clovelly Hill's maiden victory at Ashburton on Sunday gave What The Hill his 50th individual winner in Australasia. Standing at Woodlands Stud, What The Hill boosts a tremendous pedigree being the son of champion trotting sire Muscle Hill and out of a full-sister to leading trotting sire Majestic Son. He was also three-year-old of his year, earning $1.2 million on the track from his 12 wins and trotting a blistering 1:51.8. In the last three years since his debut crop, What The Hill's Group 1 winning progeny have included Lovemeto, Dreambigaimhigh, and Inasinglemoment while other talented types are Bet N Win, Ya Rite Darl and Kiss And Run. He has arrived in Auckland and is ready for the 2024-25 breeding season. He has a reduced fee of $5,000 + GST in New Zealand

Spicy win for ex Kiwi

After winning nine races in this country before heading overseas last October, Chimichurri has set a lifetime best in North America. The Bettor's Delight six-year old won at the Meadowlands in New Jersey over the weekend for driver Jason Bartlett and ex-pat Australian trainer Shane Tritton in 1:50.2. It was his 14th win in 40 career starts.

Carter Dalgety home "end of month" 

Top Kiwi junior driver Carter Dalgety's expected to be back racing in this country in the next few weeks. The 21-year-old has been on a working holiday in the US staying with his mentor and great mate Dexter Dunn. Since arriving in North America in July he has racked up 11 wins in 88 drives. In an interview at the Meadowlands he said he was preparing to return to New Zealand "at the end of the month" just as things heat up heading into IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week. Having loved his stint state-side he seems pretty keen to make a more permanent return there in the years ahead. Dalgety is currently second in the junior drivers' premiership in this country with 38, with Sam Thorney leap-frogging ahead of him on 42. In the USA Dunn currently has 201 wins for the year and his $6.7m in stakes places him fourth overall, with Yannick Gingras leading the way with $8.5 and 298 wins.

Setback for promising pacer

Promising pacer Kings Watch will be off the scene for some time after developing a quarter crack. The He's Watching four-year-old was an impressive back to back race winner at Cambridge in July for trainer-driver Todd Mitchell before the hoof issue arose. “The quarter crack popped up just prior to when he was set to race at Alexandra Park so we pulled pin and had Kim Hughes out to do some remedial shoeing on him,” says Mitchell, “he’ll have a good spell now to let the hoof grow out and spend some time in the pool when he returns to work later in the year.”

Fergusons tie training knot

Real life partners and now training partners as well, Dylan and Jo Ferguson have lined up their first starter together. Scott started at last night's Cambridge meeting in the Trot Into Tuesdays, Win Your Share of $5K Mobile Pace, finishing fifth. The couple got married last weekend. Dylan has trained 62 winners in partnership with Graeme Rogerson while Jo (Stevens) has trained 25 winners. In July Jo Ferguson, a social media content creator and re-homer (among other roles) won the Administration and Ancillary Services category at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards. The pair train out of Dylan's parents' place at Cambridge.

Club News - Methven

The fields are out for the first grass track meeting of the spring, with the Methven Trotting Club hosting 12 races at its Mt Harding circuit on Sunday.
"The committee has put in some long hours with four working bees over the last month," says Methven Trotting Club President Mike Heenan, "and we had trials on Saturday with 70 odd horses running round....the feedback was good."
The Methven Club will also honour the late Katie Cox.
"She was extremely popular and respected," says Heenan, "Katie will be remembered with the planting of a tree with a plaque to follow and a moment of silence."
The club, in conjunction with the Canterbury Owners Association, will also run a BBQ for stablehands, owners and trainers prior to the last race and would like to thank Nigel and Brenda Armstrong for their support.

To see the Methven fields click here