Bits and Bridles

When Robbie Close drove Dalton Shard (Always B Miki) to win Friday night’s G3 Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup, it was the tenth Group or Listed race he’s driven in his fourteen year career in harness racing.

He drove Group One winner Bettor Talk Art for Regan Todd to win the 2022 New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Addington. And his only Group Two win was on the same mare in the 2021 Nevele R /Macca Lodge Southland Oaks Final.

Close’s Group Three wins include Splash Cola in the 2020 Summer Trotting FFA, Ariella and Treacherous Gall in the Caduceus Club of Southland/Alabar Two Year Old Fillies Classic, Play Philly in the Leonard Memorial and Dalton Shard in the Maurice Holmes Vase and New Brighton Cup.

Listed wins for Robbie include Majestic Lavros in the Uncut Gems Trotters Classic and Bettor Talk Art in the Nevele R Sires’ Stakes Southern Mares Classic.

Northern Breeders Breckon Farms and stallion Captaintreacherous had a night to remember on Friday.

Four horses bred by the farm won races, two at Alexandra Park and two at Addington.

Semba (Captaintreacherous – Sem’s Delight) won for Steve and Amanda Telfer in Auckland while Won And Only (Captaintreacherous – Onlyforyou) was victorious with Hot And Dangerous (Captaintreacherous – Hothooves) running second. The latter two are raced by the Breckon Farms Lucky Eight Syndicate.

To round out the stellar night, at Addington Harrison John (Always B Miki) won for Robert and Jenna Dunn and Party Central (Captaintreacherous – Partyon) won for Mark and Nathan Purdon.

Southern trainer Nathan Williamson is expected to start six of his best horses at the workouts in three weeks.

Dreams Are Free (11-4-2-2 $59,335), Miraculous (8-4-0-0 $40,388), Captains Mistress (3-2-1-0 $80,100), Always Dreaming (7-2-2-2 $47,638). Itoje (7-3-0-0 $7-3-0-0 $20,495) and Secret Agent Man (1-1-0-0 $8,250) are due to have their first public appearance at the end of the month.

“Flying Ellie is about two weeks ahead of those horses. On Friday we took her for a hit out at Winton and she’ll follow that up with a workout this week,” Williamson said.

Having been lucky enough to secure a slot in the $500,000 The Ascent slot race in November for their good filly Empire City, (Volstead) Auckland couple Peter and Janet Argus also had cause to celebrate when a trotter they own, American Muscle, (Muscle Mass) won for trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett and driver Tony Cameron at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Empire City is a half-sister to American Muscle.

If anyone’s purchased a slot in The Ascent and is looking for a horse, their attention may turn to good three year old trotter Bring On the Muscle (Majestic Son). Southland trainer Clark Barron hasn’t been approached to date, but it’s early days.

The three year old won impressively at Winton.

“He’s full of himself. He didn’t really have a run unfortunately (laugher). He’s very perky,” Barron said.

Bring On The Muscle is due to start again on Hannon Memorial Day this Sunday before heading to Ashburton for the Group Three Hambletonian on Ashburton Flying Stakes Day.

“Mentally he’s improved and he’s always been a big strong horse. But he’s been a bit of a schoolboy. We’ll know a bit more when we line up against the better ones.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink