By Dave Di Somma – Harness News Desk
Fergie pushing 2000
A win with the Graeme Rogerson-trained Sunset Red in race 8 at Manawatu last night ($19.50) has Peter Ferguson inching ever closer to a major milestone. He is now just three wins away from driving 2000 winners. When it happens he’ll become just the eighth to achieve the mark, joining Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry, Ricky May, David Butcher, Dexter Dunn, Blair Orange and Colin DeFilippi.
Cup turnover nearly $10m
New Zealand Cup week turnover was just a shade under $10 million. It was a strong week generally with just over $9.91m wagered across the two meetings, though fixed odds on Show day was down on expectations, with $1.26m, compared to $2.55m on Cup day. The on course turnover on Friday was fuelled in part by 45 teams involved in the Punters Competition.
Dexter eyes up $10m
Dexter Dunn is on the brink of topping $US10m in stakes earnings for the year. As of this week he was at $9,992,031 with 345 wins from 1556 drives. He is the top money-earner in North America, ahead of Tim Terick ($8,653,759) and Yannick Gingras ($8,554,162). Aaron Merriman has the most wins of any driver, with 635 from 3191 drives.
Double for Auckland Reactor
Auckland Reactor has sired a double at The Meadowlands. Formerly trained by Steve Dolan in Canterbury, Love The Blues and Atomic Blast both won in New Jersey with Love The Blues (1:50.8) having his fourth win in 12 North American starts while Atomic Blast (1:51.4) had his third win in nine overseas starts.
Club News :
The Geraldine Trotting Club is auctioning a Terror To Love stud fee at its meeting on Saturday November 28. There will also be a fashion in the fields competition, winning connections will receive $200 betting vouchers , and there will be a band and punters club on course.
The Invercargill Harness Racing Club has the following stallion services for tender thanks to Woodlands Stud: Downbytheseaside and Speeding Spur. Inquiries to Lindsay Beer – 021 351 499 / lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz. Thank you to Woodlands Stud for their support.
