Copy That goes past $2m
Two-time New Zealand Cup winner Copy That’s second in last Friday’s Group 1 Messenger has taken the six-year-old past two million dollars in career earnings. He has now won $2,004,476 in total. Copy That has also gone past half a million dollars this year, accruing $502,830 from six wins, two seconds and one third.
The Ivy League’s new home
After winning his first northern start at Alexandra Park last Friday, The Ivy League has changed stables, and will be trained by the in-form Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. Previously trained by Paul Nairn in Canterbury, The Ivy League has won two from nine starts. The Purdon-Phelan combo has won 18 races this year, with Merlin, Cold Chisel and Artisan among their better performers.
SOS for fundraiser
Australian visitor Shannon O’Sullivan is going pink throughout May. After also being involved last year, the talented junior driver will be part of the Pacing For Pink campaign raising funds for the McGrath Foundation. The Foundation’s aim is to fund more specialist breast cancer nurses in Australia. O’Sullivan will wear pink pants for all her drives in this country this month with her sponsor Garrards Horse And Hound contributing to the cause every time she wins a race. And she’s in good form at the moment, having won two races in the past week or so.
“A lot of us have been affected by cancer one way or another through friends or family so it’s is always a cause to get behind.” says O’Sullivan, “I can definitely say we are all proud to be wearing the pink pants this month and raise as much money as we can!
Last year the campaign raised $140,500.
Hughes hit 50
A Cambridge double has seen the father-son combo of Brian and Gareth Hughes chalk up their 50th training success together. Whispering Artist was the first to win, followed by Kiss My Pixel two races later. The pair have trained together since 2017, with Marcy Runkie their first winner. Their 50 winners have come from 304 starters.
Spellbound voted top aged mare
Kiwi mare Spellbound has been named the Victorian pacing mare of the year after a 2022 that saw her win the Group 1 Alabar Ladyship Cup at Melton and finish second in the Queen Elizabeth Mile at Menangle. The Art Major six-year-old mare had 14 wins from 46 starts and amassed just under $400,000 in stakes. Spellbound is currently in foal to Bettor’s Delight.
First wins for former NFL player
How’s this for a career change? In North America, former NFL player Oscar Johnson, who played for the Tennessee Titans and the Caroline Panthers, had his first wins as a harness racing trainer when both K J Erich and Just A Passenger won at Shenandoah Downs in Virginia over the past week. Even when playing football he was involved in harness racing as an owner but only got into training after retiring following shoulder surgery.
Weanling sale on May 25
Around 120 horses will go under the hammer when the national standardbred weanling sale is held at Karaka on May 25. Selling starts at noon.
To view the catalogue click here
Club News : Addington
Addington Raceway will hold an Owners’ Night for all current (regardless of whether their horse is racing that night,) and potential owners on Friday 5th May.
The event will be in Christian Cullen Lounge on Level 1 of the Metropolitan Stand, and will include plenty of activities, prize draws, a meal special, a welcome drink and much more. Race 1 is scheduled for 4.51pm. Potential owners will have the opportunity to win “an owners experience” on the night. This will include visiting “their” horse in the stabling area, meeting the trainer, driver and possibly the actual owners of the horse. They will also watch the race from the birdcage area, have a photo opportunity with the winning horse and celebrate, win, or lose, in the Breckon’s Winners Bar.
Anyone wanting more information can contact Darrin Williams at Addington Raceway – darrin.williams@addington.co.nz
Club News : Invercargill
The Invercargill Harness Racing Club hosts their annual ILT race day at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Saturday and on-course patrons will have the opportunity to win several $50 meal vouchers.
Fifteen meal vouchers from a variety of ILT establishments are up for grabs and entering the draw to win them could not be easier. Just put your name and contact details on the back of any losing tote ticket placed on a race at the meeting into the buckets around the course and late in the day a lucky draw will be made in the birdcage to find the winners.
Fifteen draws will be made and each ticket drawn will be paired with one of these fantastic prizes.
In addition to the great prizes, all ladies on course get their first wine free, courtesy of the Invercargill Harness Racing Club.
The day will feature nine races from 12.20pm and admission on the day will be free.
Lindsay Beer
Southern Harness Racing
03 217 4288
021 351 499