The New Zealand Sapling Stakes

[Gammalite]

Being run on Sunday at Ashburton for $60,000. The 7 accepting 2 year old  Fillies run separately for $40,000 in race 5 the Helen Pope Classic.

was just commenting to Mikey on the Southern Surge thread about the importance of running these type of races. He is questioning the running of these races for being small fields and not great betting and not worth $100,000.

I would say you need 2 year old racing. It's where the New Stars get 'Introduced ' each year to the sport. Marketplace WON this race last year. I definitely think it's worth the tradition and Prestige to keep these sort of races going. The Welcome Stakes gets criticised the same for small fields , but you can't just NOT Have them ?

It's the trainers fault really. They should be trying Many many 2 year olds ( as Allstars did for more than a decade sweeping these sort of races with devastating effect accordingly.

A $60,000 Group 3 race should attract the best trainers to have a go. Maybe it should be worth more money to get more starters lol? 

We have 4 x $50k races (2 Fillies and 2 coltsgelding divisions  of 2 and 3 year olds ) being run at Albion Saturday night. Grant and wife Trista Dixon , and Pete McMullen and wife Chantal Turpin qualified 22 of the 40 starters that a racing for the $200,000.  An astounding achievement of hard work and dedication . That's how the Allstars did it.

You need some of the Newer 'power' stables to try and get horses in these fields ( like at Ashburton)where are Cullens and Todd? 

are Dalgety's, Dunns and Telfers the only ones working hard now with large teams ?

 

[Gammalite]

and here's one for Rangatira too. (or anybody that can pick him before the master Sleuth Ranga does) 

And as Doomed said on another thread,  the field for the Sapling stakes used to be combined Colts/geldings/Fillies for many years. A Filly ran 2nd to this bloke in photo . a NZ record run too. 

Who is the Winner here?

 

 

[Withadream2]

With no confidence whatsoever Royal Lopez?

[Gammalite]

8 minutes ago, Withadream2 said:

With no confidence whatsoever Royal Lopez?

Not far off . Our driver in photo was 4th to Royal Lopez with his horse Treasurer when Royal Lopez won his Sapling Stakes. The Future NZ Derby winner Game Adios was 5th in that race. 

[Withadream2]

Natural Guy.   From the first crop of Nat Lobell he had a good first crop but was spectacularly unsuccessful thereafter. 

[Gammalite]

17 minutes ago, Withadream2 said:

Natural Guy.   From the first crop of Nat Lobell he had a good first crop but was spectacularly unsuccessful thereafter. 

That's him . and sold to Brodie straight after that Sapling Stakes win for a large sum 💰😉

Late great Jack Smolenski steering him to a 4 lengths win at Ashburton . also previously winning the NZ Kindergarten Stakes and the Timaru Nursary stakes where he defeated future Auckland Cup winner 'Comedy Lad' . Comedy Lad from Southland, getting revenge though, in the NZ Welcome Stakes at Addington over Natural Guy and getting sold himself to millionaire Auckland based Max Harvey.

(the Brodie that bought Natural Guy was Greg Brodie of 'Courage Under Fire' Fame lol. not the big gun's Brodie  😂😋)

[Withadream2]

He was part owned in NZ by his trainer P Robertson along with Mike Butler who was the stud master at Nevele R. 

[Doomed]

It used to be run on the big grass track of course and used to attract the country's best 2yos. The one I always remember was Fouroux, trained by Clem Scott, beating Melton Monarch sometime in the early 80s. 

Some of the greats won it, notably Inky Lord, Young Quinn and Noodlum. The best filly I remember winning it was Hilarious Guest. The most interesting filly to win it was Ar Miss who went on to become the mother of the brilliant Armalight.

Sadly, I wouldn't be able to name a single winner over the last 30 or so years, but that is because I don't follow harness racing much these days. Inky Lord is probably the most recent winner I could name.

[Doomed]

1 minute ago, Doomed said:

It used to be run on the big grass track of course and used to attract the country's best 2yos. The one I always remember was Fouroux, trained by Clem Scott, beating Melton Monarch sometime in the early 80s. 

Some of the greats won it, notably Inky Lord, Young Quinn and Noodlum. The best filly I remember winning it was Hilarious Guest. The most interesting filly to win it was Ar Miss who went on to become the mother of the brilliant Armalight.

Sadly, I wouldn't be able to name a single winner over the last 30 or so years, but that is because I don't follow harness racing much these days. Inky Lord is probably the most recent winner I could name.

I do remember Malaz winning it. Not sure if he was before or after Inky Lord.

[mikeynz]

First Sapling stakes I remember was Castle Derg, Richard Brossnan

[Doomed]

10 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

First Sapling stakes I remember was Castle Derg, Richard Brossnan

I think Richard might have driven Fouroux as well.

[Gammalite]

31 minutes ago, Doomed said:

t used to be run on the big grass track of course and used to attract the country's best 2yos. The one I always remember was Fouroux, trained by Clem Scott, beating Melton Monarch sometime in the early 80s.

45 years ago almost to the day on last day of May,  'Fouroux' and Richard Brosnan staved off the future Open class horse of Jim Dalgety's in 'Melton Monarch 'that Jim had bred owned trained and drove himself. 

same year as Lord Module won the NZ Cup for CecilD.

Fouroux never made open class with just the 9 career wins . 4 of them were as a 2 yearold. 

In the Sapling Stakes , both he and Melton Monarch had tangled badly , and were way out the back after the start , but both looped the field in impressive fashion at the half mile,  to fight out the finish by a neck margin. 

was huge runs by both horses is why it might stick in your memory Mr Doomed. 

[Doomed]

6 minutes ago, Gammalite said:

45 years ago almost to the day on last day of May,  'Fouroux' and Richard Brosnan staved off the future Open class horse of Jim Dalgety's in 'Melton Monarch 'that Jim had bred owned trained and drove himself. 

same year as Lord Module won the NZ Cup for CecilD.

Fouroux never made open class with just the 9 career wins . 4 of them were as a 2 yearold. 

In the Sapling Stakes , both he and Melton Monarch had tangled badly , and were way out the back after the start , but both looped the field in impressive fashion at the half mile,  to fight out the finish by a neck margin. 

was huge runs by both horses is why it might stick in your memory Mr Doomed. 

That's an even better memory than mine Gamma. I think they were the favourities and it was a tight finish. Might have even been a protest. Big fields in those days as well.

[mikeynz]

Noodlum in 74, Olga Korbut 75. A filly beat a field of 15, 15 running on Sunday but 2 races, if a filly is good enough it's good enough.

Edited May 29 by mikeynz

[Gammalite]

17 minutes ago, Doomed said:

That's an even better memory than mine Gamma. I think they were the favourities and it was a tight finish. Might have even been a protest. Big fields in those days as well.

correctamondo. Fouroux lost the race on protest , then was reinstated as winner on appeal a few days later. very rare event.

All these years later the Dalgety Clan look set for Victory with a huge chance to win it .

FUGITIVE a hot $1.50 fav for Carter  and FREEZE FRAME 3rd fav at 11-1 for Mr Orange driving. 

[mikeynz]

It's Brosnan, not Brossnon, correct spelling is important🫣

I only take pride in spelling after reading many comments on Facebook lol. 

Edited May 29 by mikeynz

[Doomed]

1 hour ago, Gammalite said:

correctamondo. Fouroux lost the race on protest , then was reinstated as winner on appeal a few days later. very rare event.

All these years later the Dalgety Clan look set for Victory with a huge chance to win it .

FUGITIVE a hot $1.50 fav for Carter  and FREEZE FRAME 3rd fav at 11-1 for Mr Orange driving. 

The good old days of post race-day appeals. Total tangent here, but the one I always remember was in the galloping code. The 3yo fillies race at Oamaru, in the days when Oamaru was a respected track. Sea Princess beat one of the Dennis brothers horses and the result changed numerous times with protests, appeals and counter appeals. Can't happen these days. They changed the rules as it has the potential to be a bit embarrassing.

[Gammalite]

Looks Beautiful day at Ashburton. fine and sunny. The first race just went and another cracking drive by Kim Butt . she is going great guns lately. 

Is fine here Brisvegas too , but LEAP TO FAME resumed last night in driving rain at Albion winning well from the back of the field looping to the death . priming up for the Interdominion.

With the Sapling Stakes on today at Ashburton, I thought i'd have a look How the Greatest Horse of all Time got on as a 2 year-old through 2021 . LTF 'Larry '  had 11 starts 8 wins , 2 x 2nds and a 4th ( 4th when useless Robbie Morris drove him at Menangle) 

one of the 2nd Placings was his career Very first start when beaten 4 lengths by DANGERZONE. Dangerzone has had 6 race starts this year , now 4 years on from that day, for absolute zero. BUT, a Bit of a feather in the Cap to be the Only horse to ever beat LEAP TO FAME by 4 lengths though 😆🤣.  Larry so far back wouldn't of been in the photo lol. 

[Rangatira]

On 29/05/2025 at 3:00 PM, Withadream2 said:

He was part owned in NZ by his trainer P Robertson 

Aside from Natural Guy he had a very handy team back then, Florlis Fella, Bee El, Lochout, Melvander, Balonne, Rapid Fella and David McGowan as his junior driver.

Used the best drivers. 

[mikeynz]

That 2yo fillies races is a group 3, there is only 6 and its restricted to one gender, that's weird.

Looks like they are giving out awards for mediocrity.

Edited June 1 by mikeynz

[Gammalite]

7 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

That 2yo fillies races is a group 3, there is only 6 and its restricted to one gender, that's weird.

Looks like they are giving out awards for mediocrity.

Millwood Nike won a heap of 2 and 3 yearold races recently . The whole lot she entered because the rest were mediocre. It's just the way it is . 

If the 7  Fillies today in race 5 started against the colts in the Sapling Stakes  they would get nothing. Also the field would be a STUPID 15 horse size . that's asking for trouble with 2 year olds and just way way too hard on them.

I liked Radioactive Jaffa in the race 4 but wouldn't back it , as in that stupid 14 horse field it was a chance of being 10 lengths from the lead (And THEREFORE NO Chance of winning ) with half mile to go. Ran on nicely just in behind them, but all you get out of that race is another FIVE horses with Zeroes next to their name.

The 7 Fillies coming up in Race 5 ALL have a great chance  and we'll have Happy connections taking home the First 4 prizes. only 3 horses will miss getting some money. An excellent thing for Connections and Punters. 

[Brodie]

14 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

That 2yo fillies races is a group 3, there is only 6 and its restricted to one gender, that's weird.

Looks like they are giving out awards for mediocrity.

Group 3 for $40k.

With  5 minutes to go $1100 in the win and $800 in the place tote pools.

So much interest from the small time punter.

 

 

[mikeynz]

1 minute ago, Brodie said:

Group 3 for $40k.

With  5 minutes to go $1100 in the win and $800 in the place tote pools.

So much interest from the small time punter.

 

 

Looks like no interest at all.

[Gammalite]

1 minute ago, mikeynz said:

Looks like no interest at all.

scrap the races then . you guys been calling for Manawatu and Auckland to be banned as well for lack of interest.

Only serious Punters are at the Gallops or footy. Who would lose their money on things like that favourite in the 2nd race ?? Snoowgood ?  It was NO GOOD and couldn't even trot ?

Harness racing is just a joke for Punters lol. No wonder you say No Interest. Scrap the races altogether is the answer lol 😂

 

[Gammalite]

10 minutes ago, mikeynz said:

Looks like no interest at all.

There you go Mikey. 

You missed an easy $5.00 winner in a 7 horse field. Great odds !! A champion young NZ bloke and near the best horseman in the whole country  (who I hope can WIN Interdominion soon as well)

and no chance of getting buried on the paint , pushed 6 wide and all that sort of shit.

You guys are just POOR at recognizing a GOOD betting race. That Fillies race was one of them. Go The Gambit !🏆💰

and watch out for young Carter in the Sapling Stakes as well. Only 8 in it and 2 of them are his. Bring em' home Carter