News Briefs : September 24

[Wandering Eyes]

Two health updates, Nathan Purdon’s 20th Group 1, the return of qualifying trials at Addington, and Dex’s $1m win all feature in this week’s News Briefs.

O’Reilly back at work

Sarah O’Reilly has been given the all clear to return to work. The Ashburton based trainer-driver has had a long and frustrating time on the sidelines since breaking her arm in July 2024. She was injured when a horse “jumped” into her cart. Since being given the all-clear by medical specialists she’s returned to light duties at his employers Tim and Brent White’s stables. While she can drive some trackwork there’s no date for a race day return as yet. A former champion junior driver on both sides of the Tasman O’Reilly has had 304 wins since her first in 2018.

Ranger on the mend  

In other health-related news, well-known New Zealand harness racing journalist Duane Ranger is recovering well and taking “little steps” after undergoing prostate surgery earlier this month. The 61-year-old went public with his health battle just before the start of Blue September, the annual fund-raiser for prostate cancer research. He wanted to encouraged all men over 45 to get checked after being diagnosed with the disease earlier this year. Based in Brisbane, he has since had his prostate removed and while he’s a been tough few weeks he is making good progress. A sport and racing fanatic he is looking forward to getting back into cricket umpiring at the end of the month.

Nathan Purdon’s 20th Group 1

When Shezsofast won the Caduceus Club 2YO Fillies Classic at Alexandra Park on Friday night it gave co-trainer Nathan Purdon his 20th Group 1 success. He has had 19 training in partnership with his father Mark, starting with Millwood Nike in the 2023 Northern Oaks, and one in partnership with Cran Dalgety (Krug). The Purdons’ weekend finished on a massive high too with Oscar Bonavena’s highly impressive victory in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Addington on Sunday.

Trials back at Addington

Qualifying trials return to Addington next Wednesday (October 1). They will be run prior to the races. Nominations should be emailed to Cameron Kirkwood by 1pm on the Tuesday before. His contact is :  cameron@hnzco.nz

Date change for Northern 3YO Stakes

The Northern 3YO Stakes have been re-scheduled to Friday, December 12 at Alexandra Park. The race was originally scheduled for this Friday but will now not take place because of insufficient entries. The re-scheduling will give an opportunity to the 3YOs heading to the Golden Gait a week later.

Dex wins $1m race  

Another week, another big race win for Dexter Dunn in North America. This time the Kiwi star won the $1m Mohawk Million in Ontario with the Marcus Melander-trained Apex. It was the sixth edition of the two-year-old trotting feature with Apex winning by over a length in 1:51.8, a new stakes, track and Canadian record. Dunn, the five time USA Driver of the Year, has now past $10m in stakes earnings this year and is second in the overall list behind Jason Bartlett $US11.6m). Dunn has had 209 wins in 2025. In one of the country’s great races, the Little Brown Jug in Ohio Dunn was second with Odds On Outlier, with Louprint leading all the way for top trainer Ron Burke and driver Ronnie Wrenn. Louprint is unbeaten all year with nine successive wins while Burke has now won five LBJs to be second all-time behind William Haughton. Burke also won the Jugette for the 3YO pacing fillies with Rodeo Drive Deo.

Buffy Northstains 150th start

Seven-year-old trotting mare Buffy Northstains reached a special milestone at Addington on Friday night. It was her 150th start. Since debuting as a two-year-old in 2020 the daughter of Majestic Son has won 15 races and a tick over $200,000 for her owners who include trainer Bruce Negus. Her last win was just three starts ago at Addington on August 15.

Accommodation available at Kaikoura

For anyone looking for accommodation for the races at Kaikoura in November there are still some places available at the White Morph on The Esplanade. The races will be held on Sunday and Monday, November 2 and 3, highlighted by the running of the 100th Kaikoura Cup. The scenic race course will also host the opening rounds of the World Driving Championships with our own Blair Orange taking on nine of the world’s very best. To check on availability at the White Morph click here 

Club News : Ashburton 

Ashburton’s “Emerging Talent” meeting to be held on the Thursday of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week (November 13) will feature a $20,000 Drivers Invitational race. It will be for 4YO Mares (R35-44) over 1700 metres. It will have a maximum field of 12 (and one ballot). Already dual New Zealand Cup-winning driver Cam Hart has signalled he’ll be there. It comes just two days after the New Zealand Cup where he is aiming for a record-equalling third consecutive New Zealand Cup with Swayzee. The race could also feature other global stars who will be here for the World Driving Championship that finishes on Cup day. The WDC will feature 10 of the world’s best drivers, including our very own Blair Orange. Invitations for the race will be issued closer to the event once it becomes apparent who is available and keen to take part.

Club News : Methven 

The  team at Methven under President Laurence Hanrahan are putting the finishing touches on the racecourse ahead of their big day on Sunday, October 5. The features will be the $40,000 Alabar Methven Cup where the best stayers in the South will fight out over 3000 metres while the trotting fillies and mares  will be to the fore in the $25,000 Yabby Dam Fillies and Mares handicap trot. The barbeques will be going  on course including the one funded by the Canterbury Owner’s Association and Methven Club catering to trainers, drivers and stablehands. Special thanks to Nigel and Brenda Armstrong. The club is continuing to upgrade facilities with the next targets likely to be the old doubles tote and possibly the upstairs grandstand bar.

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