Dunns top drivers’ and trainers’ premiership
After a huge two days at Nelson, Team Dunn has got off to a flying start in 2023. Currently the training combo of Robert and Jenna Dunn have 13 wins for the season, with Brent and Tim White and Phil Williamson next on 6. The Dunns had six winners at Richmond park on Sunday and three on the first day last Friday. John Dunn, who drove eight of the nine winners, has 13 wins for the season to be a clear six win leader over Matthew Williamson.
Kyle Marshall heading to Victoria
Talented trainer-driver Kyle Marshall is heading to Cranbourne in Victoria, following in the footsteps of fellow Cambridge trainers Craig and Tony Jamieson last year. Marshall plans to move in April taking two of his stars Yogi Son and Son Of Mac with him. Marshall’s had 42 training successes in the past four seasons and 187 driving wins since starting out a decade or so ago.
Top trotting sire dies
One of the most influential trotting sires of recent times, Conway Hall has died aged 28. Retired to stud aged four, Conway Hall sired a total of 1726 foals in North America. Among his outstanding progeny were Broadway Hall, who has also reportedly died in Finland. Conway Hall brought the outcross blood of Garland Lobell and Amour Angus into the breed, along with his brothers Andover Hall and Angus Hall. Conway Hall was euthanized after he began to suffer discomfort when an old stifle problem resurfaced.
McMullen and Yole top Aussies
Pete McMullen and Ben Yole have won the J D Watt Awards as Australia’s top driver and trainer in 2022. McMullen is just the third Queenslander to win the driving crown with 266 wins, 29 clear of Western Australian champion Gary Hall. Yole from Tasmania smashed the Australasian record with 393 wins last year. Emma Stewart was second with 204 wins.
New job for Ants
Champion driver Anthony Butt is the new president of the Victorian Trainers and Drivers’ Association. The ex-pat Kiwi, who won three New Zealand Cups with Blossom Lady (1992) and Flashing Red (2006-07), replaces Lance Justice, of Smoken Up fame, who was in the role for more than a decade. Butt’s lived in Australia for a decade and last year was named a Caduceus Club of Victoria Living Legend.
First auction for 2023 ends tonight
The first standardbred gavelhouse.com auction for the year closes from 7 pm tonight. There are 12 lots in all including with Wy Fi, who has won his last two starts at Banks Peninsula and Invercargill and four in all from 21 starts. Before that he was fifth in the New Zealand Trotting Derby won by Nazareth. At last look the Love You four-year-old had reached its reserve of $21,000.
