NZ HARNESS NEWS
Stakes payout soars
Official figures from Harness Racing New Zealand show that last season’s total stakes paid out topped $30 million for the first time in seven seasons.
A total of $30,312,244 was distributed in the 2016-17 season, which concluded last Sunday.
This was the highest gross total since $32,545,460 was paid out in 2009-10, a season when the entire racing industry benefitted from then Racing Minister Winston Peters allocating $9m to elite stakes across all three codes.
Monkey King won a $1m New Zealand Cup that season and it has not been run at that level since.
The average stake per race was up $886 in 2016-17, though this was offset somewhat by the reduction in the number of races by 108 to 2513.
A further $3.55m is to be injected in to the stakes fund by the New Zealand Racing Board this season and next, on the back of the Racing Amendment Bill likely to be passed in parliament in the near future.
The bill was introduced by new Racing Minister David Bennett last Monday and is expected to have its first reading next week.
Factor in further increases by the clubs at Addington and Alexandra Park and the same data next season could reach the heady heights of the 2008-09 season, when over $37m was paid out in stakes.
Bruno big chance
Clevedon co-trainer and driver Josh Dickie says promising three-year-old Waytogo Bruno is a strong chance to win the fourth race at Cambridge on Thursday night, after running second to the talented King Of Swing on debut, in a Breeders Crown heat at Alexandra Park on July 21.
Though drawn eight, Dickie says the Betterthancheddar gelding has the raw ability to take out the event.
“He was a little bit wayward in a couple of trials, but seems to be a lot better now. He’s improved a bit since Auckland and trained on well. We are expecting a big run from him, but the barrier draw is pretty tricky.
“He needs to grow up a little bit, but with another year on him I think he’ll be a nice enough type.
He’s the first Betterthancheddar we’ve trained and the word around the traps in south Auckland is that the trainers like them. He could be the next sire coming through maybe.’’
King Of Swing should be in for an easy win in the sixth race, with David Butcher in the sulky for trainer Ray Green as they eye a potential trip to the Breeders Crown in Melbourne later this month.
Culpeka caged
Franklin trainer Brent Mangos has opted to miss the season-opening Sires Stakes Series with promising three-year-old colt Culpeka.
The son of Mach Three was Group 1-placed in the juvenile-equivalent series at Addington in May before having his last start of the season in the Harness Jewels on June 3, finishing ninth behind Ashley Locaz.
Due to him being quite a sizeable horse, Mangos spelled him for a little longer than usual and has resisted the temptation to chase early-season spring riches with the Perth-owned pacer.
“I thought he had quite a long season at two and it was obvious that he’d had enough at the finish of it.
“He’s back in work, he only just came back in this week, but his main target will be the Sales Series race at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve.
“I think he’s a pretty good horse and is bred to be a bit better with time. He’s got the Sales Series as his first aim and perhaps the derbies after that.”
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