Bits and Bridles

When Australian driver Luke McCarthy takes the reins on Kingman (Always B Miki) in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup it’ll be his third drive in the great race.

His first drive was on Washakie in 2009 which finished fourteenth and his second on For A Reason which ran third in 2014.

He might not have won a race at Oamaru on Thursday, but Burnham trainer Bruce Negus had a good day as an owner.

Ridge (What The Hill) beat The Will (Speeding Spur) in the All Cashed Up Trot. Ridge is trained by Brent and Tim White and part-owned by Bruce, while The Will whom Negus trains is owned by Bruce and stable driver Mia Holbrough.

His other winner was See No Evil (What The Hill) who won the On A Streak Trot. She also is  trained by the Whites and is owned by Tim and Bruce.

Both winners were driven by Sarah O’Reilly, and all three fillies are products of Woodlands Stud.

Speeding Spur produced his first winner last night at Alexandra Park when Paramount Spur won for trainer John Dickie and his driver, John’s son Josh.

The three year old gelding was bred by Dickie and is out of Paramount Bliss whose dam Paramount Star won seven races for him.

The Dickies also trained Speeding Spur which won twenty eight races including six Group Ones in New Zealand – the New Zealand Trotting Derby, the New Zealand Trotting Free For All (twice) and the Rowe Cup.

He also won three Group One races in Australia including a Great Southern Star and earned over $1.2 million.

New Harnesslink owner Mick Harvey has signed an advertising deal with Addington Raceway.

The lead time in all races on the track will be announced by the course commentator as the ‘Harnesslink lead time’.

Harvey will be on-course on both Cup and Show Day. Kingman (Always B Miki) will wear his colours in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup while Ripples (Bettor’s Delight) will take her place for Harvey in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Final on Show Day.

Peter Brinsdon will be hoping his luck holds for Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

He’s a part-owner of Always A Menace (Always B Miki) which won at Addington last night, giving Blair Orange his 3000^th winner. Brinsdon also has a share in Cup contender Pinseeker (Downbytheseaside).

Always a Menace is out of Phantom Menace who won eight races including one at Addington. She’s trained at Gore by Peter’s brother Matt who also trained Phantom Menace.

The progeny of Lazarus are beginning to shine in New Zealand.

The Lazarus Effect is leading the way winning six of his nine starts for Bob Butt while Jeremiah is a seven win gelding trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

Flying Ace trained by Hayden and Amanda Cullen added to Lazarus’s growing number of winners when he impressively won at Addington last night.

Both The Lazarus Effect and Flying Ace are raced by the Alabar Racing Syndicate 2024.

Lazarus now stands at Wai Eyre Farm.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink