Topnotch Win (Thursday 18th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Regular Canterbury raider Jamie Gameson makes a habit of winning races in Southland and with yesterday's win with Topnotch Jewel he continued his great strike rate in the province.

 

Topnotch Jewel, a three year old by French stallion Love You was bred by Gary Eddington and Gameson with Frank Marrion and Paul Wilkins added to the ownership.

"She qualified super last season and we thought we had one of the better two year old fillys so we raced her at two. She probably wasn't mentally there and she had a lot of tying up problems so she just when to the paddock," said Gameson.

 

This time in, Gameson says the three year old appears to be more relaxed and her win today in the Henderson Construction Trot indicated she could develop into an Oaks filly later in the season.

"She just seems to be more settled. She still has a lot of the ability and speed but the mind seems to be better and hopefully stays like that. She's out of a Sundon mare and that's been the biggest problem as her mum was pretty hot. She seems to be hanging in there at the moment."

 

Topnotch Jewel is out of Blue Jean Lady which won four races and as a broodmare has left Topnotch Dream the winner of two races.

"We'll look for another maiden to 1 win race down here then she'll go into the paddock for a month and we'll see how we're faring later on in the season around the Oaks time."

 

 

 

The style of Topnotch Jewel and Blair Orange - Envious Photography

 

 

Leave Mealone Wins In The South (Thursday 18th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Otago trainer Darryn Simpson has a habit of winning races with Canterbury mares.

 

Last season Nigel McGrath sent Maddison Renee south to Simpson's Mosgiel stable and she subsequently won three races, as well as running numerous placings.

 

His latest additon is the Elsu mare Leave Mealone. She was a 21 start maiden struggling on the Canterbury circuit prior to being shipped south two weeks ago.

"I stayed with Murray (Edmonds) and he said she was a nice maiden that would win one somewhere. She worked super on Saturday so I thought she could get some of the money if not win it. She seems to love it down here. She's licking her bowl clean and happy to be here," said Simpson after the win.

 

Leave Mealone is out of the Jaguar Spur mare Kitty Malone which won 4 races from just 25 starts and Simpson knew the family well.

"When I was working for Murray Edmonds we had Kitty Malone up there and she won four races."

 

He now plans to carry on with her but is likely to make some gear changes before she lines up again.

"The next time she starts we might put some pull down blinds on her. She got to the front pretty quickly today and just eased up."

 

 

Leave Mealone and Nathan Williamson - Envious Photography

 

 

 

Kiwi Rage Gets Maiden (Thursday 18th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Kiwi Rage finally lived up to his promise when he won the Level One Restaurant and Bar Mobile Pace at Invercargill today.

 

The Falcon Seelster entire lead early before trailing stablemate Hardie Bromac. He ran home strongly along the passing lane to win by a head with the leaders running the last 400 metres in 28.2.

 

Kiwi Rage indicated that he was fit for today's assignment when he won at the Winton trials last Wednesday.

"When he won at the trials the other day I thought he's done this before and not won on raceday so I still wasn't convinced that he'd go good today. He did a bit of work at both ends so hopefully he's coming to it now," said Larsen.

 

The gelding raced at the end of last season but had to have an operation before resuming.

"He had a wee bone chip in his leg and we had to take it out so we didn't give him much time off. He was fit so we thought we'd have a go at these early meetings."

 

He was bred by Rugby League mates Frank Endicott and Jeff Whittaker and bought by Larsen for Bill Feiss of Sydney for $30,000. at the 2009 Sale of the Stars yearling sales.

"He's always been able to run but he's just been a bit weak. But he's now starting to fill out a bit. Falcon's (Falcon Seelsters) are a bit that way. He's out of a Soky mare (Soky's Atom) and they were a bit soft early so I'm picking he's just starting to strenghten up."

 

Meanwhile Waltzing with Cullen won't be returning to the Larsen stable.

The Christian Cullen gelding was taken to Australia to race in the Breeders Crown series but failed to qualify for the finals.

"When I got to Australia he had a dry cough. We trialled him and he ran second but I felt he was a bit flat. We scoped him and he had two ulcers one under the epiglottis and one on top of it and the epiglottis was inflamed. We did our best to patch him up but we were up against it."

 

Larsen says Mark Purdon is interested in buying him.

 

 

Kiwi Rage and Kirk Larsen just get up - Envious Photography

 

 

 

 

Glencoe All Go (Thursday 18th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

He looks like the next Washington VC star.

 

Glencoe VC continued on his winning way when he won the Foveaux Communications Ltd Mobile Pace at Ascot Park.

 

The four year old, despite being off the track for most of the 2200 metre trip, was still too classy for his eight rivals beating Magic Edition by a length and a quarter. The time of 2-46.5 was good for this part of the season.

"He paced pretty rough around the first bend and as a racehorse he's probably only halfway there. He didn't do a lot last year and after he qualified we turned him out" said trainer/driver Brendon McLellan. "He's always shown ability and felt like quite a nice horse that has just taking a bit of time. He's going to have to learn to be a racehorse as he gets up into the classes and learn to race in the field."

 

The four year old is owned by former Southland trainer Robbie McDonald and his two daughters Katherine Dodds and Christine Mitchell who were all on track to see the win.

 

McDonald trained horses up until the 1986/87 season and owned Top Grattan in the 90's which won four races when trained by Allan Beck.

 

 

Glencoe VC and Snow McLellan - Envious Photography

 

 

 

Panspacificflight's Flying (Sunday 7th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Southland breeders are eagerly awaiting the first Panspacificflight foals to be born this spring.

 

Tha Panderosa stallion has frozen semen available at Macca Lodge in Northern Southland and 39 mares were artificially inseminated last spring. There are plenty of indications from North America that his stock are serious racehorses.

 

His oldest progeny are now three and he has already left over 49 winners in Canada and America which collectively have won over two million dollars.

 

His two year olds are now hitting the headlines, with Next Flight In equalling the Indiana Downs track record for two-year-old pacing colts last Wednesday when winning his $40,000 division of Indiana Sires Stakes series in 1:52. He is unbeaten in five starts and was one of four Panspacificflight freshmen pacers to win opening rounds of the series.

Be Pacific, another son of Panspacificflight, won the first $40,000 ISS division on the programme in a time of 1:54. while Fridaynightflight romped in by four and a half lengths in his race, stopping the clock in 1:55.4. The gelding, is the first foal from the Grinfromeartoear mare. And Fritz Bow finished up the big night for Indiana’s 2010 Pacing Stallion of the Year with a 1:54.2 victory. The Panspacificflight-Ronnae Bow gelding has now won both of his career starts.

 

We'll see what talent the New Zealand progeny display when they hit the racetracks in a couple of years.

 

 

 

 

News Notes (Sunday 7th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

The Southland Harness Racing Clubs Finals Day which features the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes, Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southland Oaks and Hecton Products Country Cups final will be raced on Sunday 22nd April 2012.

 

The Invercargill and Gore Harness Racing Clubs have agreed to swap dates from those stated in the original draft of the calender, with all Southland clubs agreeing that Sunday is far better to showcase the sport's biggest day.

 

Originally the meeting was going to be raced on Saturday 28th April but it was felt that many Southlanders would be attending other sports events on that day.The date is still to be ratified by HRNZ.

 

Last season, Finals Day was run for the first time, by all of the Southland Clubs and this will continue. It means that profits or losses are shared by all Clubs.

 

The 2011-2012 season will also see horses starting at the Central Otago and Roxburgh meeting being eligible for both the Southern Supremacy Stakes and Southland Oaks series.

 

 

Ohoka Texas winner of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes last season.

 

Meanwhile CUE TV has secured the services of racecaller Dave McDonald as it's main tipster on the Southland Harness Racing show.

McDonald will be joined on the 15 minute segment by leading Southland drivers and trainers.

 

The first Southland Harness meeting is set down for Thursday 18th August with the last meeting of the new season being Sunday 3rd June 2012.

 

 

 

 

Southland Harness Racing Awards (Sunday 7th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

All facets of the Southland Harness Racing industry will be highlighted this Sunday, (14th August) when local achievements and successes are celebrated at the Southland Harness Awards Dinner at Ascot Park Hotel.

 

President of the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association Cleland Murdoch, leading Southland driver Nathan Williamson and trainer Hamish Hunter are the three finalists for the Southland Harness Person of the Year.

 

In appreciation of their contributions to Harness Racing in the South, administator Nicola Hikawai, Northern Southland Harness stalwart the late Bruce Campbell and studmaster Keith Norman will all be recognised.

 

All vying for the coveted Horse of the Year Award are: up and comer Franco Ledger which won seven races last season, New Zealand 4 year old Trotting Mare of the Year Larix, Southland Oaks winner Jumpforjoy, Forbury Park Championship winner Vi Et Animo, and Caduceus Club of Canterbury Mares' Championship victor Beaudiene Bad Babe.

 

 

Jumpforjoy after her Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southland Oaks win.

 

Dinner tickets are $60.00 per head, and are available by phoning Jason Broad at the Southland Harness Racing Office 03 2179 117.

The awards night is not being filmed for television this year.

 

 

 

 

The Last Watch (Tuesday 30th August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Sunrise Delight's win at Gore on Sunday serves to highlight the remarkable record of Stakhanovite trotting mare Little Miss Watch.

 

Sunrise Delight is the mare's ninth and last foal and Little Miss Watch's progeny have now won 31 races in New Zealand and thanks to Flying Hardwick a further 21 races in Australia.

 

The three year old Sundon filly was initially handled by Alex Jenkins at Riverton under the watchful eye of the late Bert Wohlers. Jenkins and Wolhers knew the family well, educating and training two of the mares best foals in Musgrove and Sun Watch.

 

Sunrise Delight was also put through her paces by Austin Stack and Brent McIntyre before joining trainer Nathan Williamson. She qualified impressively at Winton last October but never raced as a three year old.

 

When her trainer headed to Oamaru for the early part of this winter he took her too, and she attended three trials.

"She wasn't going that well and we thought she just needed more work but we discovered she was tying up," said Neville Cleaver, who part owns the filly with retired fisherman Kevin Strong.

 

That problem was soon sorted and the Sundon four year old debuted at Invercargill earlier this month running second to the highly regarded Topnotch Jewel.

 

Ten days later she started hot favourite in the Gore Workouts Committee Trot and after receiving the trail behind leader Rocker Billy Rebel she ran up the passing lane to win easily by one and a half lengths.

"She needs to mature. Nathan said she's still learning and knocked off at the finish on Sunday. She's going out for a short break now and we are going to be patient with her."

 

Cleaver says there's no special significance in the name Sunrise Delight other than that he recalls a good trotting filly in the late 80s that Ali Malcolmson trained called Beau's Delight.

 

 

 

Sunrise Delight winning at Gore for Nathan Williamson - James Jubb Envious Photography

 

Sunrise Delight's dam Little Miss Watch was humanely put down three years ago after suffering from a foot infection.

 

Her best two performers on the track so far have been Musgrove; the winner of fourteen races - the last one being last Friday night at Addington, and the speedy Sun Watch. He won seven races in New Zealand and still holds a New Zealand 2400 metre mobile record for three year old colts or geldings of 3-02.3. Musgrove also holds a New Zealand record, of 3-17.1 for a 2600 metre stand.

 

Neville Cleaver also owns Yule Ana, a half sister to Sunrise Delight which he purchased off Murray Darnill last season. She's a full sister to the well perforemd Aleana and is in foal to Sundon.

 

Cleaver is no stranger to ownership. He was in partnership with Strong, Pauline Flanders and Jimmy Gill in the Gaines Minbar mare Wreleys.

She won four races and ran second to Blossom Lady in the 1991 New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes when trained by Kevin Townley; recording a time of 1-56.6 for the 1609 metres.

 

He also shared in the ownership of Street Machine which won two races before being exported to America. Trained by Jason Hope she ran second to Estella Rose in the Group Two Nevele R Stakes in only her second start. She was then taken north and ran nineth in the Group One Civic Video Fillies Championship which was won by Elect To Live.

 

Cleaver bought a couple of yearlings at February's Sale of the Stars - both by boom stallion Bettor's Delight. Bettor Watch Me, purchased for $4,500, is a filly out of the the one win Falcon Seelster mare Chloe Bromac. The horse's third dam is Orbell who's foals include Lento.

 

He also paid $6,500 for Rocky Road, a nice black colt out of the Jenna's Beach Boy mare Roxy O'Neil which was offered at the the sale by Southland breeders Mark and Pauline O'Connor and Owen Shaw.

 

Both horses are currently at Macca Lodge under the watchful eye of Brent McIntyre where they've been put in the cart and educated. They will have a full preparation with Williamson shortly.

"Brent says the colt is big and powerful and should make a two year old."

 

The Beach Bunch (Wednesday 31st August 2011)

 

By Bruce Stewart

 

Blue standardbred blood is flowing under the Blue Mountains of Tapanui in West Otago.

 

Someardensomewhere - a colt by outstanding racehorse Somebeachsomewhere is only one of four live yearling foals in New Zealand.

 

Normally his breeders Noreen Stiven and her son John would have entered him in the sales. And with his outstanding bloodline they could have expected a good return. Instead they've syndicated him and he's currently being educated at Macca Lodge by Brent McIntyre.

"He gets a ten out of ten. He's intelligent and a quick learner, and he paces very fluently. He's willing to run not needing any urging and is a young horse with maximum potential ahead of him," said McIntyre.

 

During his racing career, Somebeachsomewhere won 20 of 21 starts, including the Breeders Crown, North America Cup, Metro Pace, Messenger, Confederation Cup and Tattersalls Pace. His best mile time of 1:46.4, stands as the fastest race mile in history and his $2,448,003 earnings as a three year old are a seasonal record for pacers.

Somebeachsomewhere retired from racing with $3,221,299. in earnings and he was bred to 160 mares in America in 2009.

 

Someardensomewhere's dam is the Christian Cullen mare L’Oiseau De Nuit which is a three quarter sister to the outstanding racehorse Lauraella and a grand daughter of Black Watch.

 

While in Southland recently PGG Wrightson Bloodstock's Kerry Shaw was also impressed with what he saw.

"He has such strength and confirmation for his age. He's perfectly boned with a good sized hoof and has an outstanding presence.
He has the attitude to remain a colt and I can see lots of stallion potential in him already," said Shaw.

 

The colt is expected to stay at Arden Lodge until the New Year before returning to Macca Lodge for more education. He will then be sent to Mark Purdon and Grant Payne at the All Stars Stable at Rolleston in July.

 

                              Someardensomewhere as a foal                                                                                            Someardensomewhere with dam L’Oiseau De Nuit

 

The horse is owned by The Beach Syndicate which consists of Noreen Stiven of Tapanui, Brian and Lois Woodhead of Christchurch, Allan and Liz Anderson of Tapanui, Mark and Denise Small Moa Creek, Peter and Steph Grant Timaru, John and Irma Hughes, Tapanui, Murray and Dawn Bain, Gore, Ngaire Evans, Gore, Sharyn and Dexter Nind Waitane, Jeff Rankin Gore, and Judy and John Stiven Tapanui.

 

Most owners are new to the industry but some have been successful previously. Jeff Rankin has raced a few horses including Minty.

He actually started helping with horses as a lad and worked with Dundee, a half brother to the great Robin Dundee. Dexter Nind has an interest in trotter Waitoto Express and raced Hopa Rule and Arndon's Raider.

Peter Grant's father Ernie established the Seafield name and Peter and wife Steph have a trotter, Bert Powell, with Tim Butt. And they recently raced Seafield Cullen which won two races before being sold to Australia.

 

 

Left to right: Murray Bain, Irma Hughes, John Hughes, Grace Small, Denise Small, Mark Small, Dawn Bain, Jeff Rankin, Ngaire Evans, Brent McIntyre, Sharyn Nind, Kate Stiven, Allan Anderson, hidden behind Dexter Liz Anderson, Dexter Nind, Judy Stiven and John Stiven.