Arna Donnelly – mid-year report

Trainer Arna Donnelly is midway through what could potentially be the best season in her twenty year harness racing career.

With twenty five wins on the score sheet, she needs a similar number at the back end of the season to reach her current PB of 52, which she achieved in 2021.

With horses like Kango (American Ideal), Jolimont (Sweet Lou), Dragonstone (Father Patrick), Little Spike (Terror To Love), Le Major (Art Major) and The Surfer (Downbytheseaside) there’s  plenty of horsepower in her Cambridge barn.

One of the country’s most promising pacers Jolimont, has won six of his twenty three starts over three seasons of racing.

At three he raced against an exceptional crop of three year olds, running second to Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Group One Flying Stakes at Addington.

At four he went on a four race winning streak through March and April before finishing the first part of this season running eighth in the G1 New Zealand Messenger won by Mach Shard.

“He’s back in work and probably is going to trial next week or the week after, so that should have him ready for a couple of lead up races in Auckland,” Arna said.

As Jolimont is now an R72 horse there’s no escaping the top echelon of horses in this country.

“There’s nowhere for the four year olds to go once they’ve won a few. We did have a couple of goes with the big guns before we turned him out but he raced below par. Once we turned him out he showed signs of a virus and ten days later all his legs blew up. That’s all passed through now and he’s back and seems really well.”

Donnelly has nominated Jolimont for the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington in November.

“We’ll head south in early October, tackle a couple of races down there and see how we go.”

Seven year old Kango has had eight starts this season for just one win. He’s a fourteen win horse who’s won over half a million dollars with wins in the Kaikoura Cup, the Franklin Cup and Superstar Championship.

He was last seen in action in May when he ran seventh in the Auckland Cup.

“He’s a bit behind Jolimont. It’s hard for those horses to have time out. He had some hard racing and is probably a month away from trialling. We’ve just been taking it easy with him. A girl that works for me has been riding him over at the Jockey Club to mix his work up a bit. It’s been a good mental freshener for him and he’s really enjoyed that.”

Donnelly says Kango won’t be nominated for the New Zealand Cup this year.

“He’ll probably head south and maybe have a go at the Free For All on the second day. It means we don’t have to rush and make it to the Cup. He seems to race better over the shorter distances. Kaikoura would be another option.”

Little Spike was one of the early season finds in the north, winning four of his six starts and he ran a great fourth in the Great Northern Derby. His last start was a winning one at Cambridge in April.

“He’s probably two weeks away from going to the trials as well. He’s come back nice and strong and looks fantastic. He’ll head south as well. There’s the Flying Stakes on the 11^th October. One or two of my three year olds might get a run in the Slot race – you never know.”

The Surfer also showed potential early this season, winning two of his eight starts. And he was given the chance to test himself against age group company at the end of his campaign.

“I quite like this guy. He was probably a wee bit weak last time in. He’s another one that a little bit of time has done the world of good. He’s working up well and I’m looking at getting him back on the track.”

Le Major has won three of his nine starts as a two year old and has had just two runs at three. He’s also on the list of horses heading south for the rich racing calendar from October through until December.

“He and The Surfer will more than likely trial this week at Puke. He’s quite a big horse that needed some time out and he’s definitely grown. He’s quite low in the ratings so hopefully we can give him a couple of nice runs to gets his confidence back up. His work is good and hopefully he comes back as good as he was at two if not better.”   

Three year old trotting filly Dragonstone won once and was given the opportunity to race against the best of her age group in Group races at the end of her first campaign.

“She had a good spell, and we’ll just play it by ear with her. She’s only been in work two or three weeks so she’s a bit behind the eight ball. If she’s going well we can always put her on the plane because it’s so easy to get to Christchurch now.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink