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Oamaru Jockey Club @ Oamaru, Sunday 15 June 2025
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9-15 June 2025
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Otago Racing Club @ Wingatui, Sunday 1 June 2025
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26 May – 1 June 2025
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Otago Racing Club @ Wingatui, Friday 23 May 2025
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Michael Guerin Tom Bagrie has a late message for slot holders in the $500,000 Ascent at Addington next Friday. “Just in case anybody has anything go wrong, and we hope they don’t, you can tell them we are keen to help out,” says Bagrie. The “we” in that sentence are Bagrie and the other owners of high-class filly Dash Dosh, who recorded the fourth win of her career very convincingly in the Horses Perform Better On Betavet Trot at Addington on Friday. In a race that changed complexion enormously when $1.20 favourite Ya Rite Darl galloped at the start, Dash Dosh showed both manners and a touch of class to beat Tribbiani. Bagrie says he would love to be in next Friday’s slot race but as the majority owner of his filly he didn’t have the lions share of $30,000 lying around so couldn’t quite stretch to a slot. “Hey we know the slots are all full and good luck to everybody in the race but if somebody did have something go wrong over the weekend well she is here and we’d love to help out.” If Dash Dosh doesn’t get the emergency call-up Bagrie won’t have to wait long for the next perfect target with the NZ Trotting Oaks the following Friday. “The Trotting Oaks has been the race we have set her for all along and she is going to head there confident and in a really good place. “She has always had that real ability but like a lot of young trotters she went through a phase where she had to learn what it is all about. “But she has come out the other side of that now a better horse and her last four starts at Addington has now been for three wins and a second.” Bagrie is doing okay with 12 horses in work including five racehorses but says there is always more room for owners who think a young trainer with a smaller team might suit their horse. While Dash Dosh was putting her hand up as a contender to whatever the next month brings, Ya Rite Darl’s connections will be hoping the old saying “a poor dress rehearsal makes for a great show” is proved right as they look forward to the Ascent. She turned multi tickets into waste paper just a stride after the start in a race she was thrown into to keep her ticking over before next Friday’s slot race. Still, you suppose it is better to make that mistake for $15,000 this Friday and learn from it than make it next Friday for about 33 times more money. Team Dunn had more lucky with another young filly in the first trot of the night when Petite Armour got things right and recorded her second in just four starts. Cyclone Rebel regains winning form at Alexandra Park By Michael Guerin Trainer Tate Hopkins knows his weekend could have been so much different for he and Cyclone Rebel. But after a win at Alexandra Park on Friday night he has no regrets about missing the far richer Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Tuesday. Cyclone Rebel qualified for the final by winning his heat at Alexandra Park on debut, no mean feat in itself which suggested he is a smart young pacer. Hopkins was planning to take him to Addiington until he only finished third in a moderate race at Alexandra Park last week, hardly the sort of form that inspires you to spend thousands heading to a Group 1 to butt heads with Jumal. “We were thinking about it but last week dented my confidence,” says Hopkins. “Looking back it shouldn’t have because it was probably trainer error. “He won his trial so well the week before I thought he didn’t need much more so I think I was too easy on him leading into last week. “But he was fitter tonight and that was much more like it.” But even though Cyclone Rebel was able to make it two wins in just four starts, Hopkins says he will watch Tuesday’s Group 1 for the babies at Addington feeling he has done the right thing. “You look at horses like Jumal who have had that extra racing and are clearly very good and you realise how hard it would be done there, especially now he has drawn barrier three. “We could have gone down there and maybe gutted in early in his career whereas he has had a confidence-boosting win tonight.” Hopkins says the logical last aim for the season for Cyclone Rebel is the Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park on December 19. “I am sure he is qualified now with four starts here but it won’t matter because he will need at least another race here before he heads there anyway. “I know the stake has been reduced to $50,000 but it is still $50,000 on your home track so we are glad to have that as a target and then he has plenty of good three-year-old races he can target next season which we think he could be competitive in.” Another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday night was debutant Nazare who justified his hot favouritism to win in a 1:57.4 mile rate with a slick 26.6 second last 400m. He is one of 14 two-year-olds Arna Donnelly has in work and rated a horse who will make an even better three-year-old, with the Cambridge trainer realistic about the fact she might run out of races to qualify him for the Golden Gait. And in one of the more unusual trotting doubles at Alexandra Park in recent years driver Joshua Dickie drove a winner for his father John training Paramount Spur and one for his fiancee Sammy Kilgour training Loteria won later in the programme. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The World Driving Championship (WDC) is heading towards an exciting and close finish after five more heats were held at Addington on Friday night. After 15 of the 20 heats Canada’s former world champion James MacDonald has 130 points, just nine ahead of Australian Gary Hall junior (121). Mats Djuse (Sweden) is third on 111 with New Zealand’s Blair Orange well within striking distance on 107 (23 behind MacDonald). Orange’s big moment was his win with Always A Menace in the first of the night’s five heats. Not only did it continue his move up on the leaderboard but it was his 3000th New Zealand victory, a win made all the more special wearing the Silver Fern and coming on his home track in front of family and friends. As well as MacDonald (Waihemo Hannah) and Orange the other three heat winners were Pierre Vercruysse (France) with One Eye Bandit, Djuse (Mr Cash Man) and American Brett Beckwith who romped away to a huge victory with Look To Da Stars. The WDC now heads to Winton for four more heats then there is the final heat at Addington as part of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day on Tuesday. The points leaderboard (after 5 heats) is : James MacDonald (Canada) 130 Gary Hall junior (Australia) 121 Mats Djuse (Sweden) 111 Blair Orange (New Zealand) 107 Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 91 Pierre Vercurysse (France) 91 Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 83 Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 83 Brett Beckwith (USA) 80 Santtu Raitala (Finland) 74 View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Blair Orange has today become the youngest ever harness racing driver to bring up 3000 winners in New Zealand. The Canterbury-based 47-year-old brought up the milestone winning with Always A Menace in Heat 11 of the World Driving Championship in front of friends and family at his home track, Addington. “It hasn’t sunk in but it’s a pretty cool thing,” he said post race. He is just the fourth driver to get to 3000, following on from Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and Ricky May. Herlihy was the youngest driver previously, achieving the milestone at 52 years of age. “Things are a lot different now, there are so many meetings and so many opportunities. To do what they have done just shows how great they are.” From a non harness racing family the milestone has prompted Orange to reflect on how far he’s come. “I was pretty average when I started out,” he says frankly, “specially when you think of how good some of the young ones are now.”. His first win was with the Tim Butt-trained Whizza Nova at Reefton in 1996. His first 100 win season was not until 2014. He has had 100 or more winners every season since, with his best tally being the 267 he had during the elongated 2021 season. Along the way there have been so many huge moments. “The first New Zealand Cup on a horse that was not the favourite – that was surreal. I remember thinking ‘how did that just happen?'” That was 2019 with Cruz Bromac, the third stringer in the Mark Purdon – Natalie Rasmussen barn behind Thefixer and Spankem. Later that week Orange completed the Cup – Dominion Trot double with Habibi Inta. Orange has won the New Zealand Cup three times, also going back to back with Copy That in 2021 and 2022. It was another Purdon horse that gave Orange his first Group 1 in 2005. It was the 2005 New Zealand 2YO Championship at Alexandra Park. “It was with Jays Debut – that was a cool moment,” “I also won the first ever Harness Jewels race with the one trained by Andrew Faulks.” That was G T H Aveross , paying $81, in the 4YO Diamond at Ashburton in 2007. In all Orange has won the last seven premierships, following on from Dexter Dunn who’d won 10 in a row before heading to North America where he’s now established as arguably the best driver in the sport. Over the years Orange has also been a tireless supporter of Blue September, the annual fund-raiser for the New Zealand Prostate Cancer. He’s done all sorts of stunts to promote the cause. While he has been driving for 30 years he hopes he’s got plenty more to come. One target potentially is overhauling Herlihy at the top of the winners’ leaderboard. “Obviously Tony’s the most winningest driver – see how things progress over the next couple of years whether that is a target or not.” “I’ve probably got another 10 years of what I’m doing but there will be a time to pull pin.” But right now he is in a good space. “I’m really enjoying life and the racing at the moment … mentally and personally.” When he does decide to step back or away from what is currently a rigorous schedule he doesn’t have to look far for an heir apparent. Teenage son Harrison Orange has been a sensation in the sulky since he started last year. “I’m very proud of Harry.” “I hope he is better than me, everyone wants their kids to be healthy first of all and happy and enjoying what they do – I get a massive thrill watching him.” New Zealand’s 3000 win club – November 7, 2025 Tony Herlihy (3719) Maurice McKendry (3429) Ricky May (3190) Blair Orange (3000) View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Group 1-winning sprinter Arizona Blaze has been retired by Amo Racing and will stand at the Irish National Stud next year. His fee has been set at €12,500. An impressive winner of the first two-year-old maiden of the season in March 2024, Arizona Blaze quickly established himself with a defeat of the subsequent Classic winner Camille Pissarro in the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh in May. Over the remainder of his juvenile career, he continued to match the best two-year-olds around with a succession of cracking efforts, placing in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and the Group 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. At three, Arizona Blaze laid down a notable early-season marker when he broke the track record over five furlongs at Chantilly in the Group 3 Prix Sigy – a race which has previously been won by the likes of Sands Of Mali. However, his career highlight came when successful in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, which turned out to be his final start. Arizona Blaze retires to stud with a Timeform rating of 119 and Amo boss Kia Joorabchian commented, “Arizona Blaze has always demonstrated exceptional strength, speed and mental toughness and we have complete confidence in his ability to pass on his class, power and temperament. “We are delighted to partner with the Irish National Stud for this next chapter which we believe is the perfect home for him. Amo Racing is committed to fully supporting Arizona Blaze throughout his stud career.” Meanwhile, Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, said, “We are delighted to stand Arizona Blaze, new for 2026, at the Irish National Stud. He was teak tough and remarkably consistent at the very highest level over five and six furlongs. He is a horse with great quality, strength and terrific action.” The post Amo Racing’s Group 1 Winner Arizona Blaze To Stand At Irish National Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Sea The Stars, who has headed the Aga Khan Studs roster for 16 years and is the sire of this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz, has had his fee for 2026 raised to a career high of €300,000, from €250,000. Top of the list of the remaining four Aga Khan Studs stallions, all standing at Haras de Bonneval in Normandy, is Siyouni, whose runners in 2025 included Zarigana, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Having stood at €200,000 in 2025, Siyouni's fee has been reduced to €150,000 for the forthcoming season. His stud-mate Zarak, out of the great Zarkava and who, along with Erevann, is one of two sons of Dubawi on the roster, will remain at €80,000. The champion three-year-old Vadeni and Group 2-winning miler Erevann have each covered three-figure books in their first two seasons at stud and have their first foals about to grace the sales rings. Vadeni's fee for 2026 has been clipped to €15,000 from €18,000, while Erevann – who is out of Siyouni's three-time Group 1-winning daughter Ervedya – will remain at €8,000. The post Sea The Stars at €300,000 as Aga Khan Studs Release Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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