SMALL CLOSING IN ON 1000
There’s still a wee way to go but Geoff Small is closing in on his 1000th career training success. The win of Everlasting Grace on Thursday night took Small to 963 wins in his 28 year training career. The man behind some our best pacers including Elsu and Changeover trained his first winner, Roydon Ross at Pukekohe in 1988. Life is a little quieter for Small these days with just 18 winners coming his way this season. But it’s only a matter of time until he reaches the 1000 mark.
PREMIERSHIP A BRIDGE TOO FAR
Mathematically it is still possible, but Robert Dunn would need a minor miracle in the 11th hour to lower the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stable from the top perch on the national trainers’ premiership. Eight wins behind with just three meetings remaining, Dunn does have some big numbers to race this weekend (potentially close to 30 starters) but three strong winning hopes from the All Stars might be the nail in the coffin.
PURVIS ON THE MOVE
Talented Canterbury junior driver, Matt Purvis, will be a Southlander next season. The youngster, who has most recently been attached to the Woodend Beach stable of Robert Dunn is relocating to the deep South to team up with leading Southland horseman, Nathan Williamson. Purvis has driven 10 winners this season and 28 during his career. He has previously worked for Greg and Nina Hope and began his career under the tutelage of Paul Nairn.
AWARDS NIGHT THIS SATURDAY
Harness Racing excellence will be recognised this weekend when the annual Harness Racing New Zealand Awards night is held at the Christchurch Casino. A long list of Awards are up for grabs on the night with the most coveted prize that of Horse of the Year which this year is expected to be a closely fought affair between superstar trotter, Monbet and Miracle Mile winning legend, Have Faith In Me.
NEW HANDICAPPING SYSTEM TO LAUNCH NEXT WEEK
The trial of a new, points based, handicapping system in the North Island will officially be launched at next Thursday’s Harness Racing Waikato meeting at Cambridge. After plenty of industry consultation and assignment of new points ratings for horses the system will be sure to create plenty of interest with a view to it becoming the universal system New Zealand wide in the near future.
MATATOKI SOLD
Promising Canterbury trotter, Matatoki, is to become an Australian. The impressive winner at Ashburton a fortnight ago has been purchased by big spending owners, Merv and Meg Butterworth and is set to join the stable of New Zealand Trotting Cup winner, Keryn Manning. The Revenue gelding, who is a brother of the ill-fated Kahdon was trained by Bob Butt for four wins from nine starts prior to his sale.
WILLIAMSON SUSPENDED
Brad Williamson’s premiership winning season has been cut short by suspension. The North Otago horseman was suspended until the completion of racing on Sunday after he was found guilty of careless driving in the opening heat of the New Zealand Junior Drivers’ Championship on Friday night. With 70 wins next to his name, Williamson is more than 30 wins clear of his nearest rival, Kyle Marshall.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
