Sales graduates starring at the HRNZ awards, Harrison Orange’s slender lead in the Revell Douglas series and an eye-catching quinella all feature in this week’s News Briefs.
Sales graduates win big
With the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales getting underway at Karaka this Saturday it’s timely to note that Sales graduates claimed eight trophies during Saturday night’s NZB Standardbred-sponsored 2024 Harness Racing Awards at Addington. They were :
Merlin – 4YO Pacing Entire/Gelding and Pacer of the Year
Marketplace – 2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding
Republican Party – 5YO and Older Pacing Entire/Gelding
Bet N Win 4YO Trotting Entire/Gelding
Meant To Be – 2YO Trotting Colt/Gelding
Chase A Dream – 3YO Pacing Colt/Gelding
Mantra Blue – 4YO Pacing Mare
Saturday’s sales in Auckland will be followed three days later in Christchurch next Tuesday, February 18.
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Transport, entry and hospitality at The Mot
Harness Racing New Zealand and Next Gen have arranged a special bus service for visitors attending the NZB National Standardbred Yearling Sales to get to and from Sunday’s Banks Peninsula Trotting Club meeting at Motukarara. The Christchurch pick ups are at :
10:20 AM – Commodore Hotel
10:35 AM – Chateau on the Park
10:40 AM – Depart for Motukarara Raceway
Return Trip:
5:45 PM – Depart Motukarara, returning to Chateau on the Park and Commodore Hotel
All bus passengers will get free entry to the course and are invited to join HRNZ and Next Gen in our marquee on the hill for an afternoon of great racing, networking, and hospitality. Seats are limited to 45 passengers and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your place, email cameron@hrnz.co.nz today.
Changes to feature race calendar
A small number of changes have been made to the Feature Race Calendar at Addington. All changes have been approved by HRNZ and The Metropolitan Trotting Club. The Canterbury Breeders Stakes was scheduled on April 19, 2025 and will now be held on May 2, 2025 while the Heather Williams Memorial moves from May 2 to May 23 and the About Now Mares Trot is brought forward, from May 23 to May 2.
Grey 1-2 at Methven
Everyone loves a grey and what a sight it was at Methven on Sunday when Dem Bones Dem Bones and Silverlinings produced the quinella in the John Morrison, Ken McRae and Dave McHugh Trot. The pair were one-two throughout with the Ben Hope trained and driven Dem Bones Dem Bones getting the better of the pace-making Silverlinings via the passing lane. Trained by Don Burrows, Silverlinings was driven by Sam Thornley, with the all-grey quinella paying $56.10.
Orange leading Revell Douglas Series
After four of seven heats, Harrison Orange has the narrowest of leads in the 2025 Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series. The latest heat was held at Methven on Sunday, with Olivia Thornley winning with Francent. She is now on 17 points, fifth equal with Taitlyn Hanara. Orange has 34 points, Crystal Hackett is next on 33 while 2022 Revell Douglas winner Alicia Harrison is on 26. This is the fourth year of the series which is run in memory of the late Revell Douglas who tragically lost his life in an incident at Karioitahi Beach in 2021. The next heat will be held at Motukarara this Sunday.
Beside Me turns heads with Addington win
The numbers don’t lie when it comes to Beside Me’s eye-catching win at Addington last Friday night. With Next Gen driver Carter Dalgety in the bike, the Downbytheseaside filly was eight lengths off the leaders turning for home in the Barron Bloodstock Class of 2025 Fillies and Mobile Pace only to roar past with ease to win by more than two lengths. Her last 800 was 53.91 with the last 400 at 26.4. It was her second win in just three starts and she looks a filly of enormous potential for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.
Kiwis to be honoured in USA
There will be a strong Kiwi flavour to the latest inductees into the US Harness Racing Hall of Fame. Ex-pat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder was announced last year and it’s now been confirmed that Kiwi-bred champion pacing mare Shartin N will join him. Bred by Grant Crabbe at Prebbleton, just outside Christchurch, in 2019 Shartin N became the first horse bred outside North America to be named Horse of the Year in the USA. With a best of 1:46.8 Shartin N was the fastest pacing mate in history. She won 46 races and $2.6m in stakes. The official Hall of Fame function will be held in New York in July. And pacing sensation Twin B Joe Fresh, who is part owned by Ryder and champion driver Dexter Dunn, has been named Older Pacing Mare of the Year in Standardbred Canada’s annual O’Brien awards. She won 11 from 12 in 2024 including nine in a row. Her best time was 1:47.6 at The Meadowlands.
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