Eight wins in 2023 for Muscle Mountain
Muscle Mountain is now the most “winningest” horse in New Zealand this year. The star trotter took out the What The Hill Ashburton Trotters’ Sprint for the third time on Monday. It was his eighth win this year from 11 starts. He has amassed $217,650 in stakes. Millwood Nike and Bella Button are next on seven wins for the year. Meanwhile Akuta has passed $250,000 in earnings this year with his win in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Monday. The New Zealand Cup favourite has won four from nine this year with stakes of $251,635 to be third behind Copy That ($517,755) and Millwood Nike ($281,141).
300 for Morrison
Ashburton provided quite the highlight for trainer-driver John Morrison. On his home track he piloted Bogle McNeep to a win on debut on Monday to bring up his 300th win. Morrison also trains the 3YO gelding who is named after a character in Worzel Gummidge, played by Billy Connolly. He was purchased at the Christchurch sales for $15,000. Morrison’s first winning drive was with Motu Speedy Star in February 2016. He also has 27 wins as a trainer.
700 for Barron
Ken Barron brought up 700 training wins when Cee Who’s Bettor won at Addington with stable employee Sam Thornley last Friday. It was the three-year-old’s first win in seven starts. Of Barron’s 700 wins he has had 511 on his own account (2005 – 2023), 90 with brother Tony Barron (2017-18), and 99 in partnership with John Lischner (2002-04). It was his 27th training success this year.
Uncle Chan goes platinum
A three-race winner in this country when trained by Dean Taylor and then Craig and Aimee Edmonds, Uncle Chan has won the Platinum Cup in Gawler in South Australia as part of a winning treble for driver Ken Rogers. Exported to Australia last year, the American Ideal gelding rated 1:58.5 over 2070 metres. At the same meeting former Kiwi Carana was a $1.40 favourite and duly delivered despite botching the start before steadying and eventually winning by two lengths. Formerly trained by John Hay, Carana has now had eight wins in 16 starts.
Smartee win in Western Australia
Mister Smartee is proving to be a good winner in Western Australia. The son of Always B Miki won the Group 3 pace at Gloucester Park in Perth on Friday ahead of the up-coming Western Australia Derby. He has five wins and one seconds from just six career starts. His only defeat was by Da Vinci at Addington last year. In his next start, on NZ Cup day in 2022, he was second across the line but later promoted ahead of Sinbad. He headed across the Tasman in February this year.
Confederate’s 11th win in 2023
The highest earning horse in North American Confederate has won again, this time at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Indiana. He posted a 1:49.8 mile to rack up his 11th win in 12 starts this year. Trained by ex-pat Kiwi Brett Pelling, Confederate has now won $US1,244,929 in 2023, with the only other two million-dollar earners being T C I and It’s My Show.
Nominations open for Rural Sports Awards
The nominations for next year’s Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards are now open! Nominations close 5pm 22 January 2024. The awards that are open for nomination are:
– The PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award
– The New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award
– The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award
– The Freebairn & Hehir Lawyers Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Award
– The Courtesy Ford Lifetime Legacy Award
– Future Post Rural Sportsperson with a Disability
The awards ceremony will be held on Friday 8 March 2024.
Gavelhouse auction closes tonight
The latest gavelhouse auction closes from 7pm tonight, with eight lots up for sale. To see the line-up click here
Last week’s harness racing information : with turnovers, and Gross Betting Margin.
Auckland TC Thursday $571k, GBM 19.3%
NZ Metro TC Friday $1,143k, GBM 24.4%
Tuapeka Sunday $663k, GBM 20.4%
Ashburton TC Monday $1,700k, GBM 9.5%
Manawatu HRC Monday $247k, GBM -19.9%
