The race for the junior drivers’ premiership, Swayzee’s race day return, a notable 21st and movie night at Cambridge all feature in this week’s News Briefs.
Junior drivers’ premiership battle heats up
The Junior Drivers’ premiership is down to one. Last night’s meeting at Addington saw Carter Dalgety get a Trent Yesberg-trained double with Whosdreamingnow and Major Performer to take his tally for the year to 60. He trails leader Sam Thornley by just one. He had a win last night with Kawactus. Snapping on the leading pair’s heels is Wilson House on 58. Thornley is aiming to clinch a notable double after winning the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships in New South Wales over the weekend. With so much racing between now and the end of the year the premiership is set for an exciting conclusion.
Swayzee set for Boxing Day return
Dual New Zealand Cup winner Swayzee is close to a racetrack return, following his heroics at Addington last month. After skipping the Inter Dominions the champ’s connections are targeting a $1 million bonus for winning all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups. Swayzee won the first two at Parkes (September 20) and Young (November 8) and now head to Tamworth on January 17. Victory at Tamworth would secure Swayzee at least a $250,000 bonus. That doubles to $500,000 if he can win Tamworth and add Albury on February 14. All going well, the rising seven-year-old would then be racing for the $1 million bonus at Penrith on March 15. Hart confirmed Swayzee would resume from a freshen-up in the $50,000 Group 3 Shirley Turnbull Memorial (2790m) at Bathurst on Boxing Day.
Happy 21st for Santanna Mach
What a trouper Santanna Mach is. The 10-year-old notched up his 21st lifetime win in the Country Feasts Mobile Pace on the grass at Rangiora on Sunday. Despite his long run of success, starting as a four-year-old, he continues to be under-rated by punters. The Michael House-trained gelding was 12/12 in the betting and paid $36.70 for the win. He has now had 212 starts.
Firsts at Oamaru
The Canterbury-based Phoebe Stud had two firsts at Oamaru on December 11. A winner of 14 races and over $400K, Locharburn sired his first winner when J R Tolkien (Locharburn – Cheyenne Princess) won for trainer Murray Howard and driver Carter Dalgety. The stud also stands Royal Aspirations and his three-year-old progeny Niamh won on debut for trainer Mark Jones in the race before J R Tolkien’s success. Well known racing presenter Greg O’Connor co-bred and co-owns the filly. And Rakaia-based Jason Ford had his first win as a trainer with Gold Nugget scored at Rangiora on Sunday. It was just his sixth start as a trainer. It was the Father Patrick six-year-old’s first win in 17 starts.
Dunn goes $2m clear
Ex-pat Kiwi star Dexter Dunn now has a more than $2m lead as the top stakes-earner in North America this year. His earnings are at $16.6m, with Yannick Gingras second on $14.5m. Just two other drivers have surpassed the $10m mark. They are Jason Bartlett ($12.4m) and David Miller ($10m). Dunn has had 304 wins this year and is set to be named the USA Driver of the Year for the fifth time in six years.
Third win for promising 2YO
Doo You Want Me showed he’s got a good future ahead of him with a third career win (in just seven starts) in last Tuesday’s Palmerstonian at Manawatu. Trained by Stephen Doody and driven by nephew Andre Poutama, the two-year-old came four and five wide before winning by a length, beating the likes of favourite and 16-race winner Rough And Ready. Doo You Want Me was bought for Doody for $35,000 and has so far earned nearly $22,000 in stakes since debuting in April this year. Next year he’ll be aimed at the Harness Million in Auckland and maybe the Derby at Addington. By Captain Crunch out of 10-race winner Delightful Lana, Doo You Want Me was bred by Kelvin Holmes Holdings who have a Art Major filly out of Delightful Lana at next February’s Yearling sale in Christchurch. Shalalana is Lot 305.
Shutkowski hits 50 winners
Fredastaire tiptoed his way to giving Allan Shutkowski his 50th career win as a trainer at Manawatu on December 12. It was the Blenheim-based trainer’s third win this year. His first win was with Short Cut at Hawera in 1989, with his best season wins-wise being the seven he had in 2015 – four of them by C A Penny. It was Fredastaire’s second win in 16 starts.
Surviving and thriving in 2025
The New Zealand Sires’ Stakes have released their season review including a ‘quick question’ survey and the ‘Greatest Place to Race’ podcast looking back on ‘the future’ and contemplating ‘surviving and thriving’ in 2025!
To see more click here
Club News : Rangiora
Remedial work is being done on the Rangiora all-weather track after it was damaged by severe wins earlier in the month. The grass track was not affected and held its last meeting last Sunday. The all weather track is expected to be in action on January 1.
Club News – Cambridge
Cambridge Raceway is running a summer outdoor movie series from Sunday December 22. Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will start at 5pm followed by Love Actually at 7pm. Tickets are just $5.
To see more click here
