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Japan’s Big Guns Take To the Meydan Turf
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Good points, to the first post, maybe those thoughts and Mark Jones comments should be taken to heirachy of HRNZ and get their ideas, or explain their gameplan. -
By PeterLambFan · Posted
I’d be interested to know what advice if any was taken from the Commerce commission in relation to the creation of the monopoly. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
With the halfway mark of the 2025 racing calendar now passed, as we move into July the premiership tables are starting to take shape – with a few standout stories already emerging. Orange in control again Blair Orange is no stranger to leading the pack, and once again finds himself on top of the national drivers premiership. With 99 wins from 585 drives so far, the seven-time premiership winner is on track to crack 200 wins for the first time since 2021. He fell just short of that mark last year, finishing with 196 victories. Junior stars shake up the top ranks In what is believed to be a first, three junior drivers are sitting inside the top five on the premiership table. Wilson House leads the way on 59 wins, with Carter Dalgety and Crystal Hackett close behind, each on 43 wins. It is uncommon for Junior Drivers to appear towards the top of the overall drivers premiership, and the last time multiple juniors made an appearance in the Top 5 at the halfway point of the season was in 2012 with Zachary Butcher and Matthew Williamson. Harrison Orange sits just outside the Top 5 in seventh, with 41 wins this season. The son of current leader, Blair Orange, is closing in on his 50th career victory and is poised to become the fastest driver in New Zealand history to reach that milestone. That quartet also leads the junior premiership standings and with Wilson House holding a 13-win lead over Crystal and Carter, he’s in a strong position heading into the second half of the year. In recent years, the top juniors have finished the year on around the 70-win mark, so this year’s leading bunch is tracking well. The only junior drivers to have finished a season with over 100 wins are Dexter Dunn, Matthew Williamson and Zachary Butcher. Telfer team on record pace On the trainers’ side, Steve and Amanda Telfer look poised for a record-setting year. With 85 wins from 390 starts, they’re well ahead of the chasing pack and on pace to threaten the modern-day benchmark of 157 wins set by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in 2014. Michael House (74 wins) and Robert & Jenna Dunn (42 wins) round out the top three, with Mark Jones (38 wins) not far behind. Rounding out the top five are Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, with 35 wins so far this year. It’s a standout effort from the trotting specialists, who have had just two pacers in their team this year and do nearly all their winning in the squaregaiting ranks. With 39 total wins last season, they’re on track for one of their best years yet. The Telfers won the premiership in 2022, with Diamond Racing (Robert and Jenna Dunn) claiming the title in 2023 and 2024 – but if current form holds, this year’s trophy could be heading back to Stonewall Stud. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Entain Industry Excellence Awards were held in Hamilton over the weekend, celebrating standout contributions across racing administration, training, welfare, and leadership. Designed to spotlight rising stars and behind-the-scenes achievers across all three codes, the awards are now in their second year. Harness racing trainer Nathan Purdon was recognised with the Leadership Excellence Award, honoured for the way he has embraced change and demonstrated strong leadership through a period of major transition. Following the sale of his Canterbury base, Purdon relocated north and has successfully rebuilt his operation in Auckland, a shift that required fresh thinking, adaptability, and trust in his new team. “Professionally, it’s a true honour to be receiving such an award. I have really focused on changing into being a leader over the past few years, it’s not something that came easy to me but consistently working on it I feel I have reached a goal,” said Purdon. “I’m really lucky with the team of people I have around me in Auckland. With me having to travel a lot to the different carnivals, it’s near enough impossible to do it without them all.” Following the sale of the Rolleston farm, Purdon moved his operation north to Auckland – a move that required big-picture thinking, major adjustment, and a leap of faith. “Since the decision had to be made about where to go once the farm in Rolleston was sold, it was a real think-quick moment and I had to tick all the necessary boxes to ensure it was the right move not only for myself but the owners and the new team that I would have to surround myself with. That’s the biggest decision I had to make, it wasn’t taken lightly that’s for sure!” With a new base and a faster training surface to contend with, Purdon says he’s focused on treating each horse as an individual and letting them guide the approach. “ I’ve had to change a lot of the training and come up with fresh ideas as the track is a lot quicker to what I have been use to working on my whole working life, but just taking a step back and assessing each horse individually and how they are handling the work is the only real guide you can go off and that has worked pretty well so far”. Among the proudest moments in the past 12 months was Treacherous Baby’s Group 1 win in the Nevele R Fillies Final on Cup Day. “Winning the Nevele R fillies Group 1 on Cup Day, I tried something I had never really done before because the filly promised me a lot around home but wasn’t really taking it to the track on race day. But she showed her true talent on Cup Day and I’m wrapped that I had the faith to do it for starters and even better to be able to pull it off was something very special – and with my great mate Blair Orange in the gig too.” Looking ahead, Purdon says he’s focused on maintaining momentum and producing high-quality performers. “I have cut the training numbers back since coming north so the likes of winning training premiership looks very slim, but I’d like to keep quality horses coming through the barn and keep attending those big meetings – that’s the goal anyway.” The winner of the National Racing Woman award, Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle, also has a harness connection through her work managing social media and content for Breckon Farms. Harness Racing New Zealand also congratulates all other harness finalists, including Zachary Butcher (Equine Licence Holder Excellence), Samantha Ottley and Crystal Hackett (National Racing Woman), David Branch (Administration and Innovation), and Shannon Armour (Care & Welfare). View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Blair Orange hits 99 wins, McCormick does the double, Krug and Perfect Sting announcements, weanling sale success, Republican Party returns to work, and the latest Gavelhouse auction closes tonight. ORANGE ON CUSP OF CENTURY AT HALFWAY POINT Blair Orange heads into this week’s racing on 99 wins for the year, with the calendar ticking past the halfway mark on June 30. The seven-time premiership winner is on track to reach 200 wins in a season for the first time since 2021. He finished just shy of the mark last year, ending 2023 with 196 victories. WEEKEND TO REMEMBER FOR MCCORMICK AT ADDINGTON Ashburton’s Lawrence McCormick enjoyed a dream weekend at Addington with a training/driving double. Vertigo won on Friday night, followed by Father Mike on Sunday. A full-time electrician, McCormick fits training around his work schedule, keeping a small team going through the winter months. KRUG TO STAND FOR $2,500 FOR 2025/26 SEASON Phoebe Standardbreds have announced Krug will stand for $2,500 (+GST) for the 2025/26 breeding season. An early bird option is available at $2,000 (+GST) if paid by 30 September. As an added incentive, a free service will be drawn from the first 20 bookings. Progeny by the multiple Group 1 winner will be eligible for Sires Stakes and the Harness 5000, and if sold through the yearling sales, will also qualify for the Sales Series and Next Gen bonuses. Contact Phoebe Standardbreds directly to book. Contact Phoebe Standardbreds directly to book. $10,000 BONUS FOR FIRST PERFECT STING WINNER Macca Lodge has announced a $10,000 bonus for the first New Zealand winner by exciting young sire Perfect Sting. Five of his weanlings sold at last week’s NZB Standardbred Weanling Sale, sparking early interest in the champion’s southern hemisphere stock. With his first crop on the ground and more foals due this season, Perfect Sting is eligible for both the Sires Stakes and Harness 5000. His progeny are expected to feature at the 2026 yearling sales, with bookings for the upcoming breeding season now open via Macca Lodge. WEANLING SALE RESULTS SHOW GROWTH AND CROSS-CODE APPEAL Strong demand and cross-code interest marked last week’s 2025 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale at Karaka, with the average sale price lifting 25% and the median jumping 54% on last year’s figures. Seventy-two weanlings were sold for a total of $825,500, with a clearance rate of 85%. The top-priced weanling was Lot 1039 – a Bettor’s Delight filly out of Running On Faith – knocked down for $38,000. Breckon Farms’ sole yearling entry, an Art Major colt from Linda Lovegrace, topped the day overall at $60,000. Woodlands Stud led all vendors by aggregate, selling 29 horses for $362,000. Yabby Dam Farms was the top vendor by average, while Champion sire Bettor’s Delight headed the sire averages at $30,667 across three lots. One of the most notable trends was the emergence of “Pacemakers” – a new syndicate of thoroughbred preparers – who secured 11 weanlings with plans to pinhook them for the 2026 yearling sale. All horses purchased are eligible for the lucrative Harness Million Series. Entries for the series close on Monday 14 July at 5pm. REPUBLICAN PARTY BACK IN WORK Star pacer Republican Party is back in light training as he begins his build-up towards the 2025 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup. The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained pacer was third in last year’s edition, before going on to claim Group 1 Victories in the Invercargill Cup, Auckland Cup, Roy Purdon Memorial and NZ Messenger. Currently working on the water walker at Court Co Racing, he’ll stay in this phase for a couple more weeks before moving on to jogging and swim prep. The multiple Group race winner is described as “absolutely gleaming” by the Kentuckiana Lodge team, who have their sights firmly set on New Zealand’s premier race in November. AUCTION CLOSES TONIGHT The latest gavelhouse.com standardbred auction closes from 7pm tonight (Wednesday), with eight lots on offer – seven racehorses and one yearling. Among them is Group 1-winning trotter Val Thorens, currently sitting at $2,700. He’s being sold as the owner reduces racing numbers to focus on younger stock and is described as having “plenty of ability” but needing someone with time to work on his gait. You can view all available lots here RACING ACTION AT ASCOT PARK RACEWAY ON SUNDAY The Invercargill Harness Racing Club hold their final race meeting of the 2024/2025 season at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Sunday.Ten races are on the card with several of the races marking recognition of those who have contributed so much over many years. One of those races is dedicated to Invercargill trainer Murray Brown who passed away on 24 June. Brown trained over 500 winners, won the Southland Trainers Premiership seven times, and gave 40 years of service on various committees at the Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill. Several other races on the day acknowledge the contributions of those stepping down from their respective roles as the season end draws near. The first race is at 11.35am and admission is free. View the full article
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