Bits and Bridles

Luk Chin brought up a milestone when Voronov (Orlando Vici) won at Cambridge last night, giving him his 200^th training win. Of the 200, Luk has driven 159 himself.

His biggest wins as a trainer have been the 1992 Group Two New Zealand Trotting Derby with Lady Cabello, the Group Three Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes with Fayanni in 2009 and 2010 and with Jasinova in 2024.

His biggest winners have been Jasinova (20), Safrakova (14) and Djokovic (13).

Justaweesip (Rock N Roll Heaven) looks to have plenty of raw talent.

The two year old filly trained by Peter Hunter was too good for her older rivals at Ascot Park yesterday.

She’s out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Justasip who has a good record at stud having left Justalittlesip (Franco Ledger) the winner of one for Hunter and another thirteen in Australia and Justanothersip (Franco Ledger) which has also won once from a limited number of starts.

Hunter shares in the ownership of Justaweesip with his wife Jo and her brother and his wife, Brendon and Jaqui McIntyre.

Brendon is well known in the south for his involvement in the What Ever Syndicate who raced Franco Ledger – the winner of twenty five races and $682,514.

John Dunn also picked up a milestone on Wednesday when Petite Armour (What The Hill) won the two year old trot.

The win was the popular Canterbury horseman’s 1800^th.

His first winner was Scotlynn Jag at Franklin in August 2001 trained by Barry Purdon.

Rocket Reign, trained by his uncle Geoff Dunn, was his first feature winner when he took out the 2009 Listed Central Otago Cup while his first Group One win was with Yankee Dream in the 2009 New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship.

He’s driven 794 winners for Robert. Wednesday’s win was his 300^th for the Robert and Jenna Dunn training partnership.

His biggest winners have been Sundees Sun 31, Venus Serena 16 and Harriot Of Mot 12.

He’s driven 32 Group One winners including Sundees Son (12) and Venus Serena (7).

Trotter Cody Banner (Bettor’s Delight) advanced up the Harness 5000 leaderboard when he won his eleventh race at Ascot Park yesterday.

Trained by Ricky Allen and driven by Matthew Williamson the nine year old beat Errol D by a neck.

Bred to pace, he was bought by Graeme Anderson at the 2017 Yearling Sales in Christchurch and was educated by Brent White before Allen took over.

He won his first race at Winton in September 2020, and Williamson has driven him in ten of his wins.

Cody Banner is owned by Ray Chaiklin, Graeme Anderson, Tony Gow, Steve Pulley and his trainer. He’s trained on Kaitiki Beach which is close to Oamaru.

He’s out of the aptly named Surf And Sand, a Christian Cullen mare and the cross with stallion Bettor’s Delight is regarded as the ‘golden pacing cross.’

After two second placings with Rakaturbo and Rakaquattro early in the day, Rakauhauka owner Brendan Fahy’s had a change of luck at Ascot Park yesterday.

Rakavenom (Rock N Roll Heaven) trained by Tony Stratford won race seven while Rakamick (Always B Miki) trained by Clark Barron won the last race.

Fahy will be hoping the luck holds. He owns Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) which starts in Sunday’s Oamaru Cup.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink