News Briefs – October 16

[Wandering Eyes]

A first training win for Jo and Dylan Ferguson, Dexter’s exploits in the USA, a new Sires’ Stakes podcast and a horse calendar all feature in this week’s News Briefs.  

Mr and Mrs Ferguson have first win  

The newly minted Mr and Mrs Ferguson had  their first training win as a partnership at Cambridge last night when Mike Ross won the Hidden Lake Hotel and Apartments Mobile Pace. Jo and Dylan joined forces as a partnership on September 1 after getting married in August. Paying $15 for the win the Bettor’s Delight two-year-old got the perfect trail for Dylan Ferguson behind hot favourite Crumsy before zipping up the passing lane to win by a neck. It was their first training success win in 15 starts.
“Jeez that came along quick,” says Jo, “it was nice to get the monkey off the back.” 

Previously Dylan has 62 in partnership with Graeme Rogerson and Jo (Stevens) had 25 on her own account. In July this year Jo also won an Entain Industry Excellence award for her work as a social media content creator, re-homer, promoter and event organiser. Coincidentally on her Track Chat Facebook page last night Dylan’s “best of the night” was Mike Ross with him saying he was a decent win chance. 
Jo says they had “always thought quite a lot of the horse and he’d been competing in hot two-year-old fields against Cyclone Jordy and the likes.”
“It helps when you get a trip like he did.” 
Earlier in the night they also finished second with Crackerjack in Race 1, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Handicap Trot.   

Grimson’s IRT NZ Cup bid down to two

Jason Grimson’s possible $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup runners are down to two. Grimson, who won the great race with Swayzee last year, ruled out District Attorney after his Victoria Cup flop last Saturday night. But he said plans were still to take Major Moth and Nerano across the ditch.
“Major Moth will go and Nerano as well, if he’s going to make the cut,” Grimson said.
The big watch remains on Aussie champ Leap To Fame, after a virus forced him out of the Victoria Cup.
Boom three-year-old trotting filly Keayang Zahara, who made it nine wins from as many starts at Melton last Saturday night, is booked on a November 3 flight for the inaugural $500,000 THE ASCENT at Addington Raceway’s Show Day Twilight meeting on Friday, November 15.

Dunn extends lead in US

Dexter Dunn has extended his lead at the top of the stakes-earners in North America. The 10-time Kiwi champion has now won $12.69m in 2024 to be at the top of the leaderboard, ahead of Yannick Gingras on $12.34m. Dunn has had 265 winners this year compared to Gingras’ 342 with Aaron Merriman a clear front-runner with 667 wins. The way he is going Dunn is on course to be the USA Driver of the Year for a fifth time.

Jiggy Jog retired

Two-time Breeders Crown champion and Dan Patch Award winner Jiggy Jog S has been retired due to a sesamoid injury. Jiggy Jog S was six-for-six this season, including her victory in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot. The Swedish-bred mare earned more than $3.5 million in her career and won 24 of 41 starts, with a best time of 1:49.4. She was trained by Ake Svanstedt throughout her career. She retires as the ninth richest trotting mare in history.

Sires’ Stakes fourth podcast in latest series 

The fourth podcast in the latest NZ Sires’ Stakes series is now available.  It focuses on breeding and features insight from a trio of experts from here and overseas with  Adam Bowden, Katrina Price and Sam Langrope. 

To hear the podcast click here 

Kiwi complete pacing double in NY

Kiwi-breds took centre stage at Batavia Downs in New York over the weekend by taking out the two pacing features. In the night’s main event, Vulcan Star got his second straight win at The Downs in the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace in 1:54 while Melanion bolted in over four lengths in a new personal best 1:53. Vulcan Star had three wins from 11 starts in this country while trained by Regan Todd while Melanion was a four race winner for Tony Herlihy before heading to Australia in April last year.

Marketplace proves to be good buy

The highly impressive Marketplace has moved into the top 10 highest earning horses in this country following his stand out win the NZB Harness Million at Addington on Friday. The Regan Todd-trained two-year-old produced the performance of the night to secure his fourth win in just eight starts. The $100,000 purchase from the 2023 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch has won $174,019 to be the eighth highest earner horse in this country this year behind  Merlin ($548,875), Australian trotting star Just Believe ($458,500), Chase A Dream ($287,054), Don’t Stop Dreaming ($211,250) , Cold Chisel ($208,164), Mach Shard ($190,275) and Better Eclipse ($189,075).

50 beckons for Latimer

Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer is inching ever closer to his goal. The 77-year-old wants to get to 50 winners and Mikko Koivu’s win at his home track on Sunday means he is now only two away. The horse is named after a Finnish and NHL professional ice hockey player. It was the four-year-old Majestic Son gelding’s first win in five career starts.    

Fund-raising calendar for horse charity

Rehoming charity Stable to Stirrup has come up with a new initiative to raise funds. It has produced a 2025 Life After Racing calendar. It is available now and costs $25 each.

To see more click here 

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