The Witches of Westview No. 2 syndicate — each brought a friend — they seemed to outnumber everyone else in the racebook. Even Tom Patterson from the Commodore Hotel was happily wedged into a back corner, soaking up the aftermath with no speech required. Classic Girls night!
On a drinks break from filming for his famous Harness Racing Unhinged channel, Nigel Armstrong reckoned in the Breckon Farms Winners Bar that Rock Lobster had “over 450 owners”. No exaggeration — it felt like 10% of them were squeezed in there watching replays, cheering through the speeches, and clinking glasses while reflecting on a career‑long rollercoaster that’s suddenly blasting through the fun part.
The Witches of Westview No. 2 syndicate — each brought a friend — seemed to outnumber everyone else in the racebook. Even Tom Patterson from the Commodore Hotel was happily wedged into a back corner, soaking up the aftermath with no speech required.
From the moment Rock Lobster arrived at the Dunn stable, she hinted at being a prickly prospect. More than once, Jenna and John Dunn wondered whether “Tara” would ever return from letting loose at the beach — and if she did, whether she was worth the life‑insurance excess.
Everyone involved has long since mastered the “hold on for dear life” position.
Anyone who’s watched a ‘Lobster’ video on harness racing’s biggest fan‑based Facebook page knows exactly what a handful she’s been since her Westview Racing debut.
While John hasn’t exactly surrendered the reins, he freely admits this mare responds to the female Midas touch more than most. In‑form junior driver Riley Harrison delivered a beautifully timed run to win the Commodore Hotel Uncut Gems Trot Classic — but Riley was only the finishing touch really.
There’s Cassidy, who handled the dunes and Woodend horsey walks in those early days. Paige, who manages her on race night. And Brenda, who somehow keeps hundreds of owners pointed in the right direction through the paperwork and into the post‑race celebrations.
The quirks aren’t gone, but the three massive syndicates and two Garters who race her are enjoying a breakout 2026 — and we’re not even halfway.
13 starts, 6 wins, 4 placings, and nearly $100k in the tin. Addington is now her happy place.
Even now, Tara needs something to do at the stables or she’ll go stir‑crazy — but all that extra effort is paying dividends. What’s next for her (and half the crowd at the track) will be worth the fidgety wait until Spring.
“Honestly, if you didn’t own her, Nige, I don’t know if we would’ve carried on through those early days — she was such a bloody handful,” John admitted in a beach‑report interview the next morning… despite Nigel’s accidental sleep‑in.
Unhinged dedication all round.
He’s not perfect — but he’s close.
Iron Brigade posed like a poster‑boy standardbred after outgunning a field of bright sparks in the Betavet Uncut Gems Entires & Geldings Classic. There’s clearly more ahead now that he’s settling into the Telfer South Island barn.
“He’s nobody’s favourite yet — he’s only just settled in,” said junior driver Nikita Burton, who handled “Brian” on race night. That’ll change. A nickname like Brian and looks like Brad will do that.
Driver Tim Williams admitted he got the best run in the race while defending champion Sideshow Bruce turned it on up front — but he also acknowledged Brian’s bravery given the quality of the opposition.
“These horses can’t be underestimated. They crank it up every time. We’ll go again in the Country Cups Final before he gets a well‑earned break.”
After a competitive Auckland career, Iron Brigade has stepped into the Canterbury cauldron without flinching.
This was the fastest race of the night, and every rematch between these high‑end pacers promises fireworks. Sideshow Bruce had them stretched around the last bend but couldn’t quite maintain the scorching sectionals, while Brian’s younger fullbrother Bruntwood Brigade hung tough for fourth between Cullen Racing stablemates Harrison John and Hadron Collider.
It’ll be hot again in the Country Cups Final — but Brian will steal the photo shoot if he gets the chance.
The two tightly assessed, stakes‑performed mares with near‑perfect Price Bloodstock pedigrees proved too sharp for their rivals in the Cobbitty Equine Farm Uncut Gems Mares Classic.
Chicago Sky and Ruby Roe have been battling each other all Autumn in Southland against a superior group of southern‑bred mares — and that competitive edge showed up the Addington straight. They loomed, then left the leaders gasping after lung‑burning early fractions.
Not by much, though.
Fellow southerner Just Like Jagger strutted through the sectionals in front for trainer Kirstin Green, only succumbing late, while Canterbury‑based but southern‑frequent‑flyer Elektra King was close‑up in fourth.
It was qualified compensation for Katrina Price, who has been in the big smoke watching another precisely bred filly, Indulge Me, chase three‑year‑old spoils in Auckland with frustrating results — second in the Sires’ Stakes and a close nowhere in the Northern Oaks after the much‑reviewed mid‑race melee.
“It feels like we’ve had a lot of seconds and thirds this year,” Katrina said in the wash‑up, though she feels the penny may finally have dropped for Sky.
“She’s just been a bit clueless. She’ll follow any speed and probably goes best in the best races.”
More than once, Chicago Bull’s little sister has been bullish at the end of big races like the New Zealand Oaks because she can run on when others are tiring.
“She’ll be back better in the Spring mares races,” Katrina added, also confirming that Ruby Roe has run her last race and will head to the broodmare paddock.
It’s hard to go wrong with a full sister to a multi‑millionaire pacer, a Captaintreacherous mare from the Arden brand, or a granddaughter of Adore Me.
“It’s the economy stupid”.
“Location, location, location”.
“Breed the best to the best and plan for the best”.
Some say slogans but such is the formula to some of life and certainly standardbreds.
There were some “oohs and ahhs” up the straight — but none in the Breckon Winners Bar after Jumal judged it perfectly to win the second Garrards Sires’ Stakes Semi Final.
“I think he did that fairly easily,” said Bella Storer as her star colt returned for photos after narrowly downing Forever Miki.
The fact Jumal needed the length of the straight to run down a horse who’d been parked the entire trip had onlookers buzzing about a much closer‑than‑predicted Final.
Connections acknowledged the next‑best run on replay but remained confident their glamour colt can finish the job — though a low front‑row draw would make for a calmer week.
“Blair said he pulled his block off most of the way — probably because he’s been up front most of his career. We need him to relax when he’s in behind… or just dominate if he won’t,” said his as‑good‑as co‑trainer, relieved after a perfect lead‑in to the $200,000 Final.
Co‑owner Malcolm Wrigley and his son Jarrod made the trip down again and loved the early in sulky aggression to secure the one‑one inside a furlong from out wide.
“How do you get there from way out there so quickly? That’s why Blair Orange is the best,” Malcolm said while watching the drone footage of the start — and happily planning to “take some more South Island money back north”.
Cup Day 2025 still lingers for the group.
An undoubtedly glamour colt with unfinished business now heads to the Sires’ Stakes Final — and the story feels far from finished.
