The first of the Aussie horses are here, a change for SENZ radio, and two NZ records at Ashburton all feature in this week’s News Briefs.
The Aussies have landed
The first of the Australian visitors for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week have landed. The Jess Tubbs-trained quartet of Just Believe, Better Eclipse, One Over All and He’s From Heaven were due to touch down at 8am today. Superstar trotter Just Believe will go straight to the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday, November 12 while One Over All and Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse will race at Kaikoura next Monday (November 4). He’s From Heaven will race for slot holder Entain in the $500,000 Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY at Addington’s Show Day twilight race meeting on Friday, November 15.
Millwood Nike to be a mum
Superstar mare Millwood Nike is in foal. Retired with a tendon injury after winning all 17 of her starts, Millwood Nike was recently purchased by Breckon Farms and she has been based at their Ohaupo property in the Waikato for the past month or so. It’s now been confirmed she is in foal to Art Major and reportedly adapting very well to her new life.
SENZ to become Sport Nation
New Zealand’s only dedicated sports radio and audio platform is evolving, with SENZ rebranding to Sport Nation from November 19. The rebrand marks a new chapter for the station, reflecting its commitment to being the Kiwi voice of sport – by Kiwis, for Kiwis. Sport Nation will continue to deliver the same comprehensive sports coverage, offering fans access to all the sports Kiwis love, 24/7, from local legends to international events, as well as bringing the latest and greatest from the racing world.
Keeping it in the family
Merlin’s win the NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes capped off a good few days for broodmare star Imaginary Bet and Southland breeders Todd and Fleur Anderson. The now 12-year-old mare has had seven foals. A $1m plus earner Merlin (Art Major – Imaginary Bet) is by far the most successful and high profile of them. His win on Monday followed half brother Magician (Captaintreacherous) winning at Addington on Friday night, while his full sister Captains Mistress was second in her Sires’ Stakes heat at Ashburton on Monday and Merlin’s full brother Durrant was third in a race at Invercargill on Sunday. All four were bred by the Anderson’s Taffy Limited.
Two NZ records at Ashburton
Two New Zealand records were set during Ashburton’s Labour Day meeting on Monday. Dreams Are Free took out the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic when the Nathan Williamson trained and driven colt got the perfect trail behind favourite Jeremiah to win by more than a length in 1:59.2. That lowered the New Zealand 3YO colts and geldings record over 1700 metres set by Hadron Collider, who won in 1:59.5 at Cambridge Raceway in April this year. And Got The Chocolates, driven by John Dunn, eclipsed the 2YO Colts and Geldings 1700m mobile record when he won the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stake Heat in 1:58.1. That was just under Franco Indie’s record of 1:58.2, also set at Ashburton, in 2021.
Big leads in respective premierships
With two months of the year to go the drivers’ and trainers’ premierships are looking pretty clear-cut. In the drivers Robert and Jenna Dunn are poised to win another premiership with 126 wins in 2024, 22 ahead of nearest rivals Steve and Amanda Telfer while Blair Orange, on 157 wins, has a sizeable 36-win buffer over John Dunn. Sam Thornley (52) has a nine win lead over Carter Dalgety in the junior drivers’ race.
Surgery notification requirements
As the Accountable Person you are now responsible for informing HRNZ of any Notifiable Surgeries that a horse in your care has had. The Notifiable Surgeries feature is now available online through your My HRNZ login. If you login online or to your My HRNZ app, and then go to My Horses, you will find the Notifiable Surgeries feature available here. It is straight forward and easy to use. It is a requirement that HRNZ is notified of any surgeries as soon as practical.
You will be required to :
· Name the Horse
· Date of the procedure
· Name of Vet
· Choose the surgery/procedure
A video tutorial on how to use the app can be found here
In the case of a horse being gelded, HRNZ must be notified within 5 days.
Club News : Methven
The Methven Trotting Club action resumes on Friday November 1 with a twilight meeting scheduled to start at 3 pm with the last likely to go about 7.30 p.m. The track is likely to be in first class order on the back of forecasted rain a week prior to the meeting. The programmed is based around lower tier horses and most of the races are short distance. The club in conjunction with the Canty Owners Association will once again provide a BBQ and drink for owners, trainers and stablehands over the last few races. This has been very popular with connections and many thanks to Nigel and Brenda Armstrong for their selfless efforts.
