News Briefs – September 6

[Wandering Eyes]

Tickets on sale for Cup week

Tickets are now on sale for New Zealand Cup day, Tuesday November 14. There are a range of options, starting with General Admission for $40.
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Another milestone for Lazarus

Lazarus sired his first southern hemisphere stakes winner when Sir Knight took out the Group 2 NSW Breeders Challenge for 2YO Colts and Geldings at Menangle on Saturday night. Trained by Elizabeth Heath and driven by Robert Morris, the five start maiden was given no real chance. He ended up paying $118.80 for the win. It was by far the biggest winning dividend on a mega night at Menangle, with Eureka winner Encipher another outsider, paying $35.60.

100 starts  for Brookies Jaffa

What a trooper Brookies Jaffa has been for trainer Jason Teaz. The Auckland Reactor seven-year-old clocked up start number 100 at Alexandra Park last Thursday night, leading early and showing plenty of ticker before finishing fifth behind Simply Sam in a crowded finish. Brookies Jaffa has had 11 wins in those 100 starts with stakes earnings of $131,370. Earlier on Thursday night debutant Mantra Blue won the Brookies Jaffa 100th start Tonight Mobil Pace for trainer-driver Zachary Butcher. And Blair Orange registered his 100th win for the season with Live On Legend’s win at Addington on Friday. It’s the tenth season in a row he’s had at least 100 winners, with the most being the 267 he had in 2021.

Aardie books place in final

Aardiebytheseaside has booked her place in the Nevele R Fillies Series 45 Final at Addington on New Zealand Cup, Tuesday November 14. The Telfer-trained three-year-old made it five wins from 14 starts when taking out the first (conditioned) heat at Addington on Friday August 25. She automatically qualifies for the Group 1 Final, with the second heat being held at Addington this Friday (September 8).

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3YO record to Confederate

The biggest stakes earner in North America this year, Confederate has now become the fastest three year old pacer of all time. Trained by ex pat Kiwi Brett Pelling, Confederate has won at the Red Mile in Kentucky in 1:46.2, beating the old record of 1:46.8 shared by Somebeachsomewhere (2008), He’s Watching (2014), Cattlewash (2020) and It’s My Show (2023).

Tattoo Artist stamps his mark

A year after being beaten by world record holder and now retired Bulldog Hanover, Tattoo Artist has won the $615,000 Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine, in 1.47.8 beating hot favourite Bythemissal. It’s Tattoo Artist’s 34th win in 88 starts. Ex-pat Kiwi Dexter Dunn also had a big weekend highlighted by Seven Colors’ win in the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship for three-year-old male pacers in Philadelphia. Dunn, a 10-time New Zealand driving champion, has won 147 races in North America this year and has stakes earnings of $5.3m, to be 10th overall with Tim Tetrick leading the way at $7.8m

Club News – Methven

The Methven Trotting Club committee has been busy dusting off the race day gear and tidying up the track and surrounds for our rapidly approaching first grass track meeting set for this Sunday. The track has had no dramas over winter and is likely to be in first class order. Everyone will notice our middle stable block (including swab box) has been demolished and replaced with a modern user friendly block with improved drainage as the club continues its push to modernize and update facilities. It’s to be known as the Holmes’ block after the local family who originally donated the land we still use to this day. In a similar vein Holmes Rd, the short road most Christchurch traffic use to approach the track, has finally reopened.

Harness racing turnovers and Gross Betting Margin for the past week :

Auckland Thursday 31 August – Turnover $745k – GBM 30.8% –
Winton Friday 1 September – Turnover $412K – GBM 9.0%
NZ Metro Friday 1 September – Turnover $1,023K – GBM 25.9%
Ashburton Sunday 3 September – Turnover $787K – GBM 20.4%

 

 

 

 

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