The Night of...and Sires' Stakes racing provide the highlights reel and headlines. There's much more series and stakes races booked for Autumn.
IRT Trotters Semi
Our Col confirmed all considerations she’s the real deal — record‑breaking and effortless.
“I think she’s one of the best I’ve sat behind.” — Tony Herlihy, from the sulky, post‑race.
So… what was the legend actually saying there? A. One of the best three‑year‑old trotting fillies B. One of the best young trotters C. One of the best trotters D. One of the best horses
We get the impression it isn’t A or B.
Other observes… John Dunn wasn’t taking any prisoners in front, first‑up for the year with Petite Amour. She was only apprehended in the last 100 metres.
The non‑event for Kyvalley Ray was always a possibility given what we saw a couple of times early in his spring campaign. Stay tuned for more of him later.
Hoof note: Great to see a keen Kirsten Green getting a share of the stake money with her and Murray Swain’s trotter Kairo, up from Southland, finishing 4th.
Magness Benrow Three‑Year‑Old Fillies
“There isn’t a lot between most of these fillies, so we’ve got some confidence heading for the Final.” — Owner/breeder Mick Harvey, after Ripples grabbed the right tow to victory.
Trans‑Tasman travel might be her biggest hurdle.
Smackdown did the donkey work in front for a 1.53 mile rate.
Feels like there’s teen spirit in this group again this year.
Garrards Three‑Year‑Old Colts
This was a ‘Night Of Champions’ impromptu master’s stroke.
In the climax — all eyes focused on the epic battle between two decorated rein men showing the skills. Masters of their trade: AG Herlihy (MNZM) and MW McKendry (MNZM), getting the absolute most out of their charges down to the wire, clear of the mortals, just a nose between them.
Lincoln Wave and Cyclone Rebel combined for a $471‑to‑1 quinella, with Mark Purdon rising to the Special Occasion in 3rd for a $7,672 sort of tribute trifecta. Great value for money.
Back in the wash, the faves were all at sea. No sight of last month’s movers — Signman, Allamerican Player or Sonofamistery… all a mystery.
The wide‑angle photo finish had Freeze Frame back in 5th, but this was all about the retro result: McKendry 1st, Herlihy 2nd — nothing between them.
You can contrive all the legends days you like eh?…
It Was A Night of Champions After All.
The TAB Trot
Doesn’t feel like any New Zealand‑trained trotter will be winning a trans‑Tasman open‑class competition anytime soon — although a Kiwi‑bred might, while Keyang Zahara is away this winter.
Meant To Be is taking the local mantle meantime and is capable of bringing the fight with more improvement needed and likely to get closer to Keyang… and Gus… or Jilliby.
The Race by Sport Nation
And then there’s Leap To Fame — or can we just call him 'Larry' now? Float like a butterfly, sting like an Asian hornet, clobber like Cassius Clay… The Greatest.
Is it all lost at the elite level?
On the menu at Addington, some cake for us Kiwis.
Get The Chocolate in here for just desserts down the track?
The Autumn Series smorgasbord of stakes racing gets replenished this week at Addington.
A high‑quality half‑dozen southern fillies find themselves in quite the contest for $50,000 in the second semi‑final of their Magness Benrow three‑year‑old comp.
Form from the deep south clashes with the local Cantabrians, but realistically it’s second helpings given the travelling these stables have been doing up and down Te Waipounamu chasing qualification for multiple stakes‑series finals ahead.
Sires’ Stakes CEO Martin Pierson is especially looking forward to the first aged trotters’ classic of the year.
“That’s a great field of 13 assembled for the Future Wealth Listed Classic. So much form, and the handicaps give it a competitive feel where the winner looks like it could come off the front line or the back mark of 20 metres. It’s old‑school 2600m stand‑start racing at Addington and I love it.”
So do the fans and punters.
Last year’s winner Nellie Doyle has that 20‑metre handicap but has found her winning formula right on time, giving New Zealand’s leading driver Blair Orange enough confidence to opt for her again over others he’s been behind recently.
With trotting names like Nairn, Williamson, Dunn, Butt, Hope and Jones listed as trainers, we can’t help but savour the prospect of the aged‑trot classic series producing another name for the future wealth of New Zealand square‑gaiters — just when we need it too.
