Trots

what about the effort of y atchama and morrie in the first race today. Jumped out and the jockey was no where to be seen in the saddle for the first 10 metres,then popped back on. Then took the short cuts thereafter and still got up to win.You don't see a recovery like that often.

By Michael Guerin  One of the legends of New Zealand racing will make a comeback to the track on Friday night to partner a horse 67 years younger than him. Hall of Fame trainer Barry Purdon will have his first race night drive since 2019 when he partners Higher Power in an intermediate trot (Race 4, 7.27pm) at Alexandra Park, the three-year-old trotter set to start an odds-on favourite. Purdon, who trains Higher Power with Scott Phelan, is one of the all-time greats of either equine code in New Zealand, having won every race that matters as a trainer, while he has driven the winners of Auckland, Hunter and Victoria Cups, Miracle Miles and Inter Dominion Trot Finals. Perhaps most remarkably his huge honour roll has been compiled even after engaging other drivers, most notably Tony Herlihy or Zachary Butcher, to drive many of his best horses over the last 40 years. But he was forced from his occasional racenight drives in 2019 by a nagging hip issue which ultimately saw him undergo hip replacement surgery. It was not straight forward. “We ended up having some complications so I think I have had six operations, although Katrina [wife] tells me it is seven,” says Purdon. “It was nobody’s fault, I was lucky enough to have an amazing surgeon who was a great guy but when you are dealing with the body, same as in horses, things can go wrong. “But I am good now and have been back driving quite a lot of track work.” There is no secret training reason Purdon wants to partner Higher Power tonight even though the young trotter potentially has $800,000 worth of feature races coming up before the end of the year. “I could get somebody else to drive him but I want to keep my hand in,” says the 70-year-old. “I am enjoying driving track work and I think being out there on race night gives you a better idea of what is going on and maintains that connection. “I won’t be driving a lot or even all the time but am looking forward to being back out there. I’m quite excited.” With no many young drivers having come through the ranks and Purdon having been absent from the Alexandra Park driver’s room for six years, is he worried he might need to find a new locker? “Funny you should mention that, I was in there the other day and they still have my name on my old locker where I used to sit every week, so I think I will be fine,” he laughs. View the full article

The Orange army will be out in force at Addington on Friday night. The stellar race night features a stacked card highlighted by three Harness Million and three Group races and it coincides with the official launch of the “Backing Blair” campaign just over three weeks before he carries home country hopes at the World Driving Championship. Friday’s launch will feature a life size cutout of Blair Orange in the fanzone at the front of Spectators and the man himself will be there after Race 5 (6.33pm) and Race 8 (8.07pm). Fans of The Postman, as he’s known (because he always delivers), are encouraged to come along for photos, signings and a chat. A line of specially-designed merchandise will be available for purchase. It includes a range of socks, beer coolers, caps, sunglasses and flags. There will be spot prizes, draws, and giveaways throughout the evening. Fans can also leave him a personal good luck note in the Fan Mailbox. The messages will be delivered directly to him just before the WDC starts. The WDC, featuring 10 of the globe’s best drivers, will be held  at Kaikoura (November 2 and 3), Cambridge (November 5), Addington (November 7), Winton (November 9) and finally on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington on Tuesday, November 11. On track Orange is in for a busy Friday night too.  He has 10 drives including Bar Louie in the $100,000 Group 1 Dakins Group 3YO Flying Stakes and Zeus Lightning in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness 2YO Colts and Geldings Pace. Event : The Backing Blair campaign launch Where  : Spectators Front Lawn, Addington When : From 5pm – Friday, October 10 View the full article

“Four” will be the magic number for trotters taking part in the up-coming Seddon Trotting Country Cup series. The series around the top half of the South Island has been confirmed for another year starting on Kaikoura Cup day on Monday, November 3 and culminating in a $30,000 Final at Addington on March 20, 2026. There will be 10 “heats” in all at Kaikoura, Westport, Reefton, Nelson, and Blenheim.   The series is all about encouraging trainers to start on the circuit and boosting the profile of trotters and turnovers at the respective meetings.   To qualify for the Final trotters must start at least four times on the Seddon circuit and at least one of those starts must be in a designated Series race. The final field will be made up of the highest point earners over the circuit, with preference given to horses who have started in a Series race. Apart from Kaikoura, where it’s the South Bay Trotters Cup, the designated race will be the highest rated trot on the day (R51-70). Designated Qualifying Races and Final are as follows: Heats : November 3 – Kaikoura – $20,000 December 26 – Westport – $15,000 December 28 – Westport – $20,000 December 30 – Reefton – $20,000 January 9 – Nelson – $15,000 January 11 – Nelson – $20,000 January 16 – Marlborough – $15,000 January 18 – Marlborough – $20,000 March 6 – Westport – $17,500 March 8 – Reefton –  $17,500 Final : March 20 – Addington – $30,000 Points for the Series will be : 10 points for 1st 6 points for 2nd 3 points for 3rd 2 points for 4th 1 point for every other starter Racegoers will notice a big change at Nelson this year too. The grandstand has been demolished in the past month or so is now just a concrete pad. On race day there will portacoms in place to accommodate officials, drivers and other personnel. For more information re the Seddons Shields series contact erinkfox24@gmail.com View the full article

Being third-up is the key for Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) going into Saturday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap, with Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson predicting she’s ready to run a big race. Damask Rose’s only other third-up run produced a victory in the inaugural The Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8 and Gleeson said the stable has copied that previous preparation, with the plan for her to peak in the Toorak Handicap, where she will be ridden by Jamie Melham. In her second-up run, Damask Rose finished seventh in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes behind Sepals, coming from well back before being beaten by only 2.65 lengths. “She has a really good profile going to a mile third-up, so we’ve copied that program at home where she won the slot race third-up,” Gleeson said. Gleeson added that Damask Rose’s second-up form in her career hadn’t been great. “She made a long-sustained run on a firm surface. We’d love the track on Saturday to hold at Good 4,” he said. Gleeson was effusive in his praise for Damask Rose after she galloped at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning. “She looks amazing in the coat. I don’t think you’ll see a better horse on Saturday. She’s still down in weight and we’ve got Jamie Melham on, which is a big tick,” Gleeson said. “She was up the top of the market in the Rupert Clarke, now she’s forgotten about. If people look deeper into her form, they will see third-up is when she strikes.” Damask Rose drew barrier three for Saturday’s race, which is what Gleeson was hoping for as she can get a similar run to when she won The Kiwi, where she had a soft midfield run and then took the gaps in the straight. Gleeson said they have planned her preparation around peaking on Saturday, with her next run to be either in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington or the Golden Eagle at Randwick on November 1. View the full article