News Briefs – April 2

[Wandering Eyes]

Nina Hope’s record-breaking final training tally, an increase to the minimum wage,  and plenty of chat about Cambridge’s Night of Champions all feature in this week’s News Briefs. 

Nina Hope’s final training tally

This country’s most successful female trainer Nina Hope is leaving the training ranks with 903 career wins. As announced last week Hope is not renewing her trainers’ licence, with son Ben joining Greg in partnership from yesterday, April 1. The Woodend-based husband and wife combo of Greg and Nina Hope have been a huge successful training operation since their first winner Eyreton Bay at Marlborough 24 years ago. Nina Hope’s last race day was at Rangiora on Sunday where they had two wins with Blue Rock Dancer and Crown Moment, both driven by Ben. With 903 wins she finishes as the most successful female trainer in this country, five wins ahead of Natalie Rasmussen who had 898 in partnership with Mark Purdon between the 2014 and 2021 seasons. The first Greg and Ben Hope runners will be at Timaru today.

House draws clear at top of premiership 

After winning five races at Manawatu last night Michael House has extended his lead in the trainers’ premiership. He now has 56 wins in 2025, 32 ahead of his closest rival Steve and Amanda Telfer. House’s winners last night were Koko Kaboom, Matai Harry, Stickifingers, Doctor Tim and Matai Lizzie. On the back of the stable’s success Wilson House is now second in the drivers’ premiership with 43 wins, 10 behind leader Blair Orange. House is a clear leader in the junior drivers’ ranks, with Harrison Orange next on 29. 

Minimum Wage Increase – Effective 1 April 2025

Employers are reminded that, effective from 1 April 2025, the minimum wage rates in New Zealand have increased as follows:

Adult Minimum Wage: Increased from $23.15 to $23.50 per hour.​
Starting-Out and Training Minimum Wage: Increased from $18.52 to $18.80 per hour.

Please ensure all employment agreements and payroll systems are updated accordingly to reflect these changes. For more information on employment obligations and details on the minimum wage rates, visit Employment New Zealand.

3YO Semi Finals at Cambridge on Friday 

The New Zealand Sires’ Stakes are excited about the two semi finals for the 3YOs at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday.
To read their latest newsletter click here 

To see the Fillies field click here

To see the Colts and Geldings field click here 

Purdon flying at Cambridge

Chase A Dream’s return to form last Friday gave co-trainer Mark Purdon his sixth driving win in the Waikato Flying Mile. Paying $24, the Captaintreacherous four-year-old cleared out to beat a quality field by two lengths to confirm his place in Friday’s $1m The race by betcha as part of Cambridge’s Night of Champions. It was his 11th win in 21 starts. Chase A Dream cut out the mile in a new track and race record of 1:51.4, beating the old mark of 1:52 set by Self Assured in 2023. Purdon’s other wins in the event have been Chase Auckland (2020), Turn It Up (2019), Lazarus (2017), Auckland Reactor (2009) and Young Rufus (2003). Chase A Dream will start one the second row in Friday’s $1m The Race by betcha. 

The BGP Punters Club – how to get involved

The BGP Punters Club is currently at just over $65,000 for the Night of Champions at Cambridge. It’s hoped that figure will increase sharply in the last few days heading into Friday’s big meeting. For those wanting to get involved you can purchase a share in the BGP Punters Club directly from the TAB APP. You can no longer enter via a retail store, betting option or the online site. You must use the app.

Follow this link: https://www.tab.co.nz/hosted-group/BGPAID2024 which will take you direct to enter.

Alternatively:

1. You need to go to the TAB App and bottom right you will find ‘More’.
2. Top left you will see ‘Boys Get Paid’ – click on this.
3. You will see ‘Boys Get Paid’ under groups. If it asks for a joining code that is BGPAID2024 or BGPAID24
4. Once you have joined that you will see ‘The Pot’.
5. Select The Pot and join it and you can follow the steps to add funds.

Copy That Perth-bound
 
Dual New Zealand Cup winner Copy That will stand at stud in Western Australia. The $2m earner will be based in Perth from the end of April . The eight-year-old was retired from racing in September 2023 after winning 33 starts, including the Race by Grins two years ago. Another Ray Green-trained pacer is also on the move, with Frisco Bay heading to North America following his last start second to Jolimont in the Lincoln Farms Founders Cup at Alexandra Park on March 14.

Milestones for Hackett-Wallis

Two milestones were recorded in one race when the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett-trained Courmayeur won at big odds in the MVS Waikato Country Cup Handicap Trot at Cambridge last Friday night. It gave the husband and wife training combination their 377th win together and it was Wallis’ 700th overall and Hackett’s 500th. Wallis has had 323 on her own account between 1999 – 2012 while Hackett had 123 on his own account between 1988 and 2012. The pair had three wins on the night

75 wins in North America

While Take After Me’s record-breaking 400th start got plenty of attention last week he was not alone in racking up some big numbers. In North America former top-liner J L Cruze had career win number 75 in Maryland. The 14-year-old’s winning time was 1:54.4. Take After Me is also 14 with 21 wins from his 400 starts. His third at Ashburton on March 26 may have delayed his retirement with Fred Scott saying no firm decision’s been made yet about his racing future.

Winning USA debut for former Kiwi

After having two wins for the Telfers in this country, Aardie B Miki has made a winning debut in the USA. He won his race at Yonkers in New York in 1:53.8 for top driver Jason Bartlett. Aardie B Miki headed to Australia last year and won seven times between June and November there before heading to North America. Meanwhile defending champion Catch A Wave is on track for the $1m Nullabor in Perth on April 25. The six-year-old driven by Kate Gath was too good at Geelong in 1:51.9, equaling the track record. It was a bounce back performance from Catch A Wave after a disappointing effort in the Miracle Mile. His last half was timed at 53.8 – not bad considering he raced much of it three wide.

Club News : Invercargill 

The Invercargill Harness Racing Club hosts the annual Regent Race Day at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill on Thursday (3 April). A nine-race programme commences with the first race at 2.00pm. Regent Car Court and many of those that they have a business relationship with support the day of exciting harness racing while the programme also consists of a heat of the Southern Belle Speed Series supported by VetSouth Equine. Admission to the course on the day will be free.

 

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