What a week for Team Dunn
The milestones have been rolling in for the Dunns and Diamond Racing. Senior partner Robert Dunn racked up his 2000th training success when Got The Chocolates did just that at Addington on Sunday. Of those 2000 wins over the last 46 years, he’s had 1692 on his own account, 303 with daughter-in-law Jenna and five in partnership with Paul Black. He is the first non Purdon to get to 2000, following on from Barry Purdon (2686), Mark Purdon (2591) and their father Roy Purdon (2037). Robert Dunn has won the trainers’ premiership either on his own and in partnership on three occasions in the past four years (2020,21 and 2023). Robert and Jenna Dunn chalked up their 300th success together at Addington on Friday with Who’s Delight for driver Gavin Smith and John Dunn had his 1000th success for his dad and/or Diamond Racing when Sunnys Sister won at Addington on Sunday. The Dunns have raced many superstars with Sundees Son and Master Musician among the absolute standouts, with 34 wins apiece, while Mainland Banner won the New Zealand Cup in 2005.
Big money on offer in Cambridge sweepstake
The final eight have been decided in the $100,000 TAB Trot sweepstake, as part of Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday. The sweepstake, organised by Cambridge Raceway, offered up 2000 tickets at $100 each. Eight of those 2000 were then chosen, and each allocated a horse in the $600,000 feature. Included in the final eight are commentator Matt Cross, who’s got favourite Just Believe, and legendary trainer, owner and administrator Charlie Hunter. The eight finalists (with their horses) are : Nick Coxon (Arcee Phoenix), Charlie Hunter (Midnight Dash), Bryce Parker (Mystic Max), Glen Donavan (Queen Elida), Matt Cross (Just Believe), Jack Winwood (Callmethebreeze), Costa Ellis (Oscar Bonavena), and Claire Brodie (Muscle Mountain). The winner will get $50,000, with $20,000 for second, $12,000 for third, $6,000 for fourth and $3000 for the rest (5th -8th). The TAB Trot is due to go at 7.52pm.
Vale Victory Tilly
Champion trotter Victory Tilly has died in Sweden after winning an incredible 70 times in 101 lifetime starts. He won over $5m and was Swedish horse of the year in 2000 and 2002. Among his marquee victories was the Elitloppet with his time of 1:53.4 being a world record for geldings trotting on a 1000 metre track. In 2002 he won the Nat Ray Trot at the Meadowlands in a world record of 1:50.8. He spent his retirement at his trainer-driver Stig Johansson’s farm. Victory Tilly was 29.
Tristan Larsen wins Mildura Trotters Cup
Former Southland junior driver Tristan Larsen has had the biggest win of his career by partnering Kyvalley Heist to an all-the-way win in the Mildura Trotters Cup. The 21-year-old was successful for his Victorian-based employer Brent Lilley, who is in New Zealand with Queen Elida for this Friday’s $600,000 TAB trot at Cambridge. Larsen had 27 wins in this country before heading across the Tasman.
It’s Oz vs NZ at Methven
A Bledisloe Cup of harness racing will be held at Methven this Sunday. Four trans-Tasman driving greats – Kiwis Ricky May and Maurice McKendry and Australian visitors Greg Sugars and Chris Alford – will battle it out in the Anzac 18,000+ series at Mt Harding on April 14. The series got its name because altogether the quartet have had a total of more than 18,000 wins. Both Alford and Sugars are in New Zealand for Friday’s Night of Champions at Cambridge that features the $1m Race by Grins and the $600,000 TAB Trot.
Awards season in full swing
The Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Awards Night will be held at Addington Raceway on Thursday April 18. They will be at the Blossom Lady Lounge from 5pm. For more information email john@thebreeders.co.nz. The event is limited to 120 people. The Otago Harness Racing awards will held at the Loan and Merc in Oamaru on Friday April 19. For more information contact Bev Williamson at 027 3656022 or ardgowan.lodge@xtra.co.nz
Club News : Winton
Winton is set for a huge day of harness racing on Saturday (13 April) with a twelve-race programme of quality harness racing at Central Southland Raceway. It will be headlined by the Winton Harness Racing Club’s first ever group race in their 100-year history. The Entain Group 2 2YO Fillies Classic carries a stake of $70,000 and is race 8 on the programme timed for 2.33pm.
Other features include the Southern Standardbred Breeders Assn/VetSouth Equine Southern Belle Speed Series Final, the $25,000 Stearne Roofing Ltd Winton Cup and the final heat of the Alabar Southern Supremacy Series. The $20,000 Murray Gray Memorial for 2YO Colts and Geldings and the Cox Family Handicap Trot are also part of a bumper programme.
There will be free children’s entertainment with Mini Jeeps and a Bouncy Castle plus a lolly scramble while the first 100 children on course receive a free Mr Whippy Ice Cream.
Club President Ian Goodman says the club “is delighted to be hosting its first ever Group event along with a very strong support card.”
There are still a limited number of hospitality options available.The first race is scheduled for 11.42am with the last timed to start at 4.39pm.Admission to the course is free.
The following weekend on Sunday 21 April, the regions premier race meeting takes place at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill with the culmination of many of the province’s major series and the opportunity for one lucky lady on course to win a Diamond Ring valued at over $5000 courtesy of Coats & Schuck Jewellers and the Invercargill Harness Racing Club.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
