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By Mike Love Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn will be looking to cap off their successful weekend at today’s Rangiora Summer Cup meeting. The barn tasted success across the country on Friday night, including Ya Rite Darl, who won the Group One TAB Queen Of Diamonds at Alexandra Park, while One Over Da Line won at Addington. The Dunn team will line up five runners at today’s meeting, including three runners in the $25,000 New World (Rangiora) Summer Cup over 2600m. Race favourite It’s Tough ($2.10FF) will be hard to stop and looks set to continue his extremely successful campaign, having won six of nine races since resuming in early spring. The four-year-old Bettors Delight gelding ran third in last week’s Geraldine Cup behind The Lazarus Effect and race rival Tanzania. Co-trainer Robert Dunn is confident of another forward showing. “He’s come through that really well. He’s had a great campaign. He’s managing the standing starts pretty well and the grass. He should take some beating,” said Dunn.  John Dunn will take the drive.  “We are pretty happy with the way he’s been racing.” The Dunns also line up two other chances in the event: Bryce’s Meddle ($10.00FF) for Riley Harrison, who won this race last year, and Double Time ($21.00FF) for Robbie Close. “Bryce’s Meddle has been running good races. His last three or four have been spot on, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run well again.” He will start off the frontline, while Double Time starts from a ten metre handicap along with It’s Tough. “He’s not been getting a lot of luck. He ran fourth in a very strong field at Addington recently. He’s a good beginner from the stand, which will help him.” Other chances in the event include Tanzania ($9.50FF) for trainer Laurence Hanrahan, who ran second to Bryce’s Meddle last year. He will be driven by Gerard O’Reilly, and is the current second favourite. Landing a nice draw to utilise its good standing start manners to secure a potent spot, Tanzania should be a solid place chance. The Kevin Fairbairn runner Commander Joe ($15.00FF) is also racing in fine form and will be driven by Olivia Thornley. The Summer Cup is carded as race ten and is scheduled to fly at 5:05pm. The Dunns’ chances for the day do not end there, with two runners earlier in the programme. Rock Lobster ($6.50FF) in race five, the Peter Smith Memorial Trot over 2600m, will need to bring his A-game to feature and will be driven by John Dunn.  “Good run last week. He made a big sweeping run, just peaking that last little bit. He’s getting more settled in his races and definitely has the ability to win another race or two.” In race eight, Tyron’s Strapping Lad ($3.90FF) lines up in the Jack Behrns Memorial Trot over 2600m for driver John Dunn and will be looking to continue his winning form from Geraldine last week.  “The key to him is keeping him relaxed. He’s not got the greatest action now—a beautiful stride on him—and has real speed. If he can relax, he’ll definitely be right there.” Always A Menace ($2.70FF) has been domiciled with the Dunns and looks a great chance in race six, the Country Feasts Mobile Pace over 1950m. He put together a string of placings and looks set to put his hoof in the till again. John Dunn will drive.  “He never goes a bad race. It looked like he was going to win at Geraldine. His form has been great; he has to be a good chance.” The Dunns also line up Judine ($21.00FF) with Riley Harrison in the sulky in race nine, the Barnsey’s All Trades Mobile Pace over 1950m. Race one gets underway at 12:05pm. View the full article

By Jonny Turner Race conditions aren’t perfect, but Kirk Larsen is hoping to make an impact with his team at Winton on Sunday. With four runners, the trainer-driver has most of his racing team starting at Central Southland Raceway. Xerion will be out to continue his strong form when stepping out in the meeting’s feature trot. The five-year-old rematches with Bring On The Muscle and Jimmy Carter, who beat him home in their recent match-up at Ascot Park. Though Larsen has the advantage of getting a head start over the favourites, he is wary of their lesser handicaps. “We got a 30m handicap on them last time, but this week they are only giving us 20m.” “The conditions of the race are in their favour, but in saying that I am happy with my horse.” “He has worked well this week and he has been going good races.” “He doesn’t trot as well around Invercargill, so being at Winton should suit him a bit better, too.” Larsen starts Havtimeformiki in Sunday’s two-year-old event. The pacer only missed narrowly in his last start at Winton before going on to run fifth in his next outing at Ascot Park. Havtimeformiki will take on the winners of both of his last two starts in Simply Amazing and Side Hustle. “He ended up over-racing when he sat parked at Invercargill, but I was happy enough with his run.” “He is a nice horse, he is a bit of a bigger bugger and still has some strengthening up to do.” “But he has definitely got ability, he has got a bit of bottom to him.” “Drawing 5 might not be the best for him, as the horses that have beaten him are both on the second row and it could work out better for them.” Larsen will give Fiery Adi her first start in Sunday’s maiden trot. The three-year-old brings solid trial form to her debut. “Her manners at the start aren’t quite 100%, she doesn’t like it when she has to stand too long.” “Once she is trotting she is pretty good, so the start will be the biggest thing for her.” Larsen also has Ward Lamon returning in Sunday’s fast-class pace. The pacer is expected to need his Winton run, which will be his first since August. View the full article

The policing of riding is awful and that's why there is no improvement. Sit a few more on their butts for a decent amount of time, the reducing bank account will soon improve their outlook.  But the ability of stipes to read races is  poor and that may also mean some riders are penalized unfairly.  A can of worms. Not a new situation though.  A former apprentice of mine, a leading rider here, went to Sydney when his apprenticeship  ended and started riding work for Gai. Got a ride, drew wide and ended up in behind the leader.  He was very proud of his effort, until he got back and was told firmly ' you're not in the Sth Island of NZ now,  boy' .....he got six weeks for taking another's line.   Probably tightened a few as well.

Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony reached 300 career wins at Oaklawn Park when favored Brunia (Tekton) broke her maiden in the 10th and final race on Friday's 2025-2026 opening day card, a press release from the track said on Saturday. Brunia, an Arkansas homebred for Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, is trained by Lindsay Schultz. Anthony, 86, reached 299 career Oaklawn victories last March when 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Quietside (Malibu Moon) captured the GII Fantasy Stakes. The Fantasy was also Anthony's record 40th career Oaklawn stakes victory. The late John Franks, a four-time Eclipse Award winner as North America's outstanding owner, had 39 career Oaklawn stakes victories, the last coming in 2000. Anthony's first Oaklawn victory was Feb. 16, 1972 and he became the winningest owner in the track's history (270 victories) Feb. 26, 2022. Inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, Anthony amassed 172 Oaklawn victories racing as Loblolly Stable (dissolved in the mid-1990s). Brunia was Anthony's 128th Oaklawn winner as Shortleaf. The post John Ed Anthony Nets His 300th Oaklawn Victory On Friday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

After missing out on his few opportunities to run the dirt marathon distances in 2025, Next is back in training with Chief Stipe Cowans at Turfway Park as they assess a potential final season in 2026.View the full article