News Briefs : Dec 11

[Wandering Eyes]

A remarkable father and son trans-Tasman success story, a milestone for Murray Gibbs,  and changes to the feature race calendar and the Rangiora trials all feature in this week’s News Briefs. 

Two wins, two countries, same time 

Father and son Kirk and Tristan Larsen (pictured above)  completed a remarkable double on Sunday, winning races at the same time in two different countries. Kirk drove Falcon’s Watch, paying $23.90, to win at Wingatui in Otago while Tristan reined home Maestro, also at double figure odds ($14) to win the Gunbower Trotters Cup in northern Victoria.

For Keith Hotton, a long time supporter of the Larsen stable in Southland, he didn’t know where to look. He was torn between watching the two races on Trackside 1 and Trackside 2.

“The two wins would have been within 30 seconds of each other,” says Hotton, “it’s incredible for that to happen, a father and a son winning at the same time in different countries! It must be a first.”

Hotten has been a long-serving stable hand and helper at Larsen’s Branxholme barn, a former member of the Southland-based crash crew, and has had some success as an owner – “horses I’ve had a share in have won 26 races.” They include good performers like 2016 Nelson Cup winner Western Art and Mr McLaren, who won four for Kirk Larsen before heading across the Tasman. He’s now won 15 from 60.

50 wins for Gibbs 

Levin trainer Murray Gibbs secured his 50th training success when Oceanic Art won at Manawatu yesterday. Driven by Peter Ferguson, Oceanic Art sat parked the entire trip but still did enough to beat the pace-setting hot favourite Enya Franco by a nose in the Hawera Grass Track Race days Jan/Feb 2025 Mobile Pace. His 50 wins have come from 670 starts, dating back to Meadow Row at Hutt Park Raceway in 1991. His best seasons wins wise were six he had in 2022 and 2023 with the likes of Smokinhotcheddar, Hail Lucius and Cristiano Buccini. 

Changes to feature race calendar 

Some changes have been made to the feature race calendar for next year. Five races at Addington have had their dates altered. They are :

G1 Fred Shaw Memorial moves from 23/05/25 to 14/03/25
G3 Lamb & Hayward Trotters Classic moves from 14/03/25 to 28/02/25
G3 Heather Williams Memorial moves from 16/05/25 to 02/05/25
About Now F&M Handicap Trot moves from 02/05/25 to 23/05/25

And the Listed $40,000 I Can Doosit Handicap Trot which was set to be run at Alexandra Park this Friday night has been rescheduled to Friday March 7 2025 following insufficient nominations this week. It will again look to be run at Alexandra Park.

Dunn goes past 300

Champion driver Dexter Dunn has now topped 300 wins for the year in North America. The former 10-time Kiwi champion has 304 wins in 2024 and stakes earnings of just over $16.6m, that’s over $2m more than any other USA-based driver. He is all but guaranteed of again  being named Driver of the Year in North America. 

Big odds for Big Skewy

Former Kiwi Big Skewy was a big upsetter at the Meadowlands in New Jersey over the weekend. The Sportswriter gelding had one win in this country for Scott Dickson before being exported in 2022. Now a seven-year-old he has won 22 races from 97 starts, his latest in 1:49.4 at The Big M, paying $94.

Noms open for annual awards 

Nominations are now open for the Stablehand of the Year and Unsung Heroes awards. They will be announced at HRNZ’s annual awards at Addington Raceway in February. Stablehand of the Year candidates will be assessed on work attitude, going the extra mile, having the horse’s best interest at heart and overall performance. For more information contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz 

Changes to Rangiora trials

The North Canterbury trials set down for this Thursday (Dec 12) and next Monday (Dec 16) have been cancelled due to track damage at Rangiora. A trial meeting will be held at Addington on Dec 18, starting at 10.30am. Nominations to Cameron Kirkwood (cameron@hrnz.co.nz) by 1pm on December 17. There will also be an additional trial meeting at Rangiora on January 3, 2025 starting at 11am. Nominations close 1pm on January 2.

Club News : Cambridge

The Dunstan Horse Feeds Battle of the Breeds has been confirmed for Cambridge Raceway on January 17,2025.  The three discipline equestrian event in the infield will showcase retired standardbreds and thoroughbreds between races on Dunstan Horsefeeds Group 3 Waikato Trotting Breeders Stakes day. Teams will be selected by December 18. Cambridge Raceway will also run a Haras des Trotteurs Monte Trot on the same day. It will be a non tote event over a 1700m stand. Thanks to a generous sponsorship package from Haras des Trotteurs there will be a prize pool of $5000. For more info:  Jo Ferguson 0211443709 or trackchatnz@gmail.com

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