News Briefs : October 2

[Wandering Eyes]

Dexter Dunn on fire in the US, Kypros Kotzikas into the Hall of Fame, the NZ Sires’ Stakes latest podcast and Methven gearing up for its biggest race day all feature in this week’s News Briefs.

Dexter Dunn goes No 1 in USA 

Dexter Dunn’s amazing run of success in North America has continued with six more wins at Ohio over the weekend. The former Kiwi champion driver dominated the card with a clean sweep of the four Dayton Derbies. His stellar day was spearheaded by Twin B Joe Fresh, who he co-owns, who won by more than four lengths in a track record 1:48.6. The other winners on the day were Jiggy Jog S, Logan Park, Abuckabett Hanover, Odds on Hialeah and Odds On Chesapeake. Dunn is now the highest earning driver in the USA in 2024 with total stakes of $11.6m and 249 wins. In the last week he has overtaken Yannick Gingras at the top. He is second on 11.1m and 326 wins. Dunn is a four-time Driver of the Year in the USA after first making the move from New Zealand in 2018.

Kotzikas into Hall of Fame

High profile harness racing figure Kypros Kotzikas has been inducted into the Addington Hall of Fame. Among his most notable achievements as an owner was winning the country’s most prestigious pacing and trotting features. He won the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with Iraklis in 1997 and the Dominion Trot twice with Master Lavros in 2013 and 2015. He was the first owner to do the double since Allan Holmes in the 1950s. The Lavros and Lavra horses have been his trademark for decades. He has also been a big advocate for Life After Racing for retired horses and is a supporter of the Horse Ambulance Trust.

Latest Sires’ Stakes podcast

The latest NZ Sires’ Stakes Podcast is out. Hosted by Sheldon Murtha and Martin Pierson, the podcast is the third in their current series and focuses on breeding. It explores different aspects including rock star overseas vs New Zealand stallions, and different theories around spending your stud fee budget.

To hear the podcast click here

Aussie trotters target Cup week

Haras des Trotteurs principal Pat Driscoll is preparing for a two-pronged attack on Addington in November with Callmethebreeze targeting the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot on Tuesday, November 12 and I’m Ready Jet eyeing up the $100,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Free For All as part of the new look Show Day Twilight races three days later. Callmethebreeze scored a big win in the Kilmore Trotters Cup for his third win in a row since joining Andy Gath’s stable six weeks ago and is a $3 second favourite for the Dominion behind fellow Aussie champ Just Believe.

$4000 prize at Cambridge

The Framptons are having a good spell of success at Cambridge on a Tuesday. Last night the Rodney Frampton-trained Whitfield won the MVS Neo Natal ICU Mobile Pace and last week wife Paula won $4000 as part of the Trot in to Tuesdays promotion. To enter all racegoers had to do was buy a drink or some food on course and they would go into a weekly $250 draw. Then after four weeks the grand draw was made with the winner walking away with $4000.

Three southern wins at Addington

Southland certainly made its presence felt at Addington last Friday with three big wins. Trained by Craig Ferguson at Wyndham, Wag Star cleared out by 15 lengths in the Commodore Hotel For Your Cup Week Accommodation Mobile Pace, Kirstin Green trained and drove Fiery Bandito to win the Airpark Canterbury Handicap Trot at double figure odds ($12.30) and then Winton’s Trevor Proctor and his Canterbury-based caretaker trainer Mark Jones produced the impressive Tact McLeod to win the Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic by over a length, paying $16.20. Tact McLeod was the first Southland horse to win the Canterbury Classic since Prince Rashad in 1996. Assured now of a start in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, Tact McLeod’s next start is likely to be the Kaikoura Cup.

Club News : Methven 

The Methven Trotting Club is gearing up for its big meeting for the year this Sunday. The feature races are the $40,000 Lazarus Methven Cup over 3,000m for the open class pacers and the $25,000 What The Hill Fillies and Mares Trotting Classic (2400m). The track has blossomed over the last month and is certain to be in top order thanks to Laurence Hanrahan, track man Neil Burton and the hard working track committee.

The club will also combine with the Canterbury Owner’s association for a complimentary BBQ, late in the day for trainers, stablehands and connections, thanks to Nigel and Brenda Armstrong.

Another highlight will be the Entain Methven Punter of the Year. There’ll be prizes up to the value of $5,000, entry fee is $600 (for a team up to four people). Part of the winning prize is a free entry to Addington’s upcoming punting contest. Entry to manager@methventrottinglub or on the day prior to race 1.

The competition will be run over the final 10 races on the day meaning that the minimum bet per race will be $60. All entrants will receive a food and beverage voucher each and the event will be hosted in Methven’s Old Tote Building where the TAB will have dedicated windows exclusive to entrants only.

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