News Briefs – February 27

[Wandering Eyes]

The return of rising star Marketplace, Seth Hill’s win in the Revell Douglas series, Kentuckiana’s big open day and a Kiwi bred that’s become a millionaire all feature in this week’s News Briefs.

Marketplace wins at trials   

Rising star Marketplace has excelled at Thursday’s Pukekohe trials, running his last 400 in 26.2. The Regan Todd-trained Marketplace, crowned 2YO Pacing Colt/Gelding of the year at the recent HRNZ awards, won the four-horse heat by a head from Jeremiah. It was the pacer’s first public hit out this year after a 2024 that saw him win six in a row. He ran his last 800 in 56.1 as he prepares for his northern debut, the Group 1 Alabar Classic at Alexandra Park on March before heading to Cambridge’s Night Of Champions on April 4 and the Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes 3YO Colts and Geldings Semi Final. The two Sires’ Stakes semi finals will be worth $50,000 heading into a $200,000 final at Addington in May. 

To see the latest news from the NZ Sires Stakes click here

Hill claims Revell Douglas series

Seth Hill has been crowned the 2025 Hygain New Zealand Revell Douglas Memorial Junior Driver Series Champion, edging out defending champion Wilson House by just two points. Hill and Deceptive Lee finished second in the final heat of the series at Cromwell on Sunday to go to 42 points. House didn’t drive at the meeting as he had commitments at Manawatu. Mia Holbrough’s win with Quinn saw her finish third over all with 35 points. It’s the fourth year the series has been run. It is held in memory of Revell Douglas who tragically drowned in 2021. Revell’s father Don Douglas was on hand to present the trophy to Hill at Cromwell.  

Kentuckiana open day

Kentuckiana’s open day will be held this Saturday, and people can still get involved. The West Melton stables run by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety will give people an insight into how their operations works as well as an opportunity to get up close with their stable stars like Republican Party and their recent yearling purchases. It will start at 12 pm.

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Melbourne Cup memorabilia raises funds for hospice 

Hospice Mid Canterbury, a service that helps the terminally ill, was the benefactor of a  fund-raiser at the Ashburton Trotting Club meeting on Saturday.  Organised by local identity Norm Stewart, the auction featured a number of items including the pants jockey Scott Seamer wore and the whip he used in his 2001 Melbourne Cup win on Ethereal. Donated by Donna Logan Racing, the item raised $1800.  Altogether around  $5700 was raised for the Hospice. 

4000 wins for Greg Sugars

Synonymous in this country with the exploits of superstar trotter Just Believe and former Auckland Cup winner Better Eclipse, Greg Sugars has brought up a big milestone in Victoria. When Festinalente won at Bendigo last week it was his 4000th Australian winner. Almost unbelievably Festinalente, who is trained by Sugars’ wife Jess Tubbs, paid $71 for the win. In Latin Festinalente translates to “make haste slowly”. And another Aussie star Luke McCarthy has also had a weekend to remember, clocking up career win number 3000.

Win 37 for the Queen 

Kiwi-owned wonder mare Queen Elida is getting closer to being a millionaire. The seven-year-old won her 37th race over the weekend to now be at $982K in stakes earnings. Owned by the Barrons and the McKenzies, it was Queen Elida’s first win since the third heat of the Inter Dominions last December in Bathurst. She is likely to head across the Tasman again in 2025 and be part of the TAB Trot on Champion’s Night at Cambridge on April 4. 

New life for southern playboy

Robyns Playboy, the so-called “Beast from the East”, has been retired after 15 wins from 105 starts. An Ascot Park specialist he won nine times at Invercargill with Craig Ferguson driving him in 12 of his wins. The Shadow Play nine-year-old was a great performer for the Wilsons at Gore, with Ross breeding the horse and then training him in partnership with son Chris. Robyns Playboy will now join HRNZ’s life after racing HERO programme under the guidance of Invercargill trainer Shannon Armour. 

Still rockin’ after all these years

After having just the one start for trainer Ken Barron at Addington in 2016 Rock Diamonds is now a million dollar earner in North America. Bred by the Whitelocks, the son of Rocknroll Hanover was third on debut eight years ago for Blair Orange before winning 16 races in Western Australia. In the USA he’s now won more than 50 races and surpassed a $1m in stakes.  His latest win was at Yonkers in New York last week.

On track looking for champions 

Racing’s mental well being and suicide prevention programme, On Track, is holding its next Champions course in Christchurch on March 27. The Champions is programme is designed to empower and educate those in the racing industry to support mental well-being in their communities. Anyone interested in becoming a Champion should contact james@ontrack.org.nz

To see more click here

Club News : Otago and Southland

The Otago and Southland Harness racing awards for the 2024 season will be held on Saturday, March 1. The Otago awards will be held at the Loan and Merc in Oamaru (contact Bev Williamson : ardgowan.lodge@xtra.co.nz) while the Southland event is at the Waikiwi Rugby Club in Invercargill. For more information contact Gail Paisley : gail.alan@outlook.co.nz

Club News : Winton  

The Winton Harness Racing Club host their annual Southland Master Plumbers Assn Race Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Thursday (27 February). The event sees several plumbing businesses and organisations supporting races on the day with the remainder of the card consisting of a heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series, this one supported by VetSouth Equine, a heat of the Alabar NZ Southern Supremacy Series plus a special race to commemorate Colin Maynard receiving Life Membership of the club after being a part of the club for 60 years and serving time on the committee and also a period as President of the club. The first race is timed to start at 3.25pm and the last of 10 at 7.38pm.

 

 

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