Bits and Bridles

When Zachary Butcher drove his 1,000^th winner at Alexandra Park last week he joined his father David in the elite group of reinsmen who’ve achieved the impressive milestone.

To add to it, in New Zealand harness racing history they’re the only father and son in the “1000 club”.

To engage in a bit of banter as this family likes to do, David took a little over twenty two years to achieve the milestone whilst  Zachary has made it in sixteen. David has driven 2,631 winners to date but Zachary still has some time to catch him up.

Four sets of brothers appear on the honours board: Clark (1038) and Ken (1069) Barron, Nathan (1077) and Matthew (1172) Williamson, Mike (1161) and Colin (2072) De Filippi and John (1658) and Dexter (2,226) Dunn.

Speaking of the Dunn family one of Diamond Racing’s biggest clients Allan and Ian Neumann are on a bit of a roll at present. Who’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) won impressively at Addington on Friday while at Rangiora today Bravehearthighlander (What The Hill) and Sonoma Tyron (Andover Hall) won for the brothers.

Three was a good number for the Dunns today as Bravehearthighlander, Sonoma Tyron and Kairaki Confidential won for Diamond Racing. And Robert’s son John drove three winners.

BRAVEHEARTHIGHLANDER REPLAY

Tony Barron and Gordon McKenzie who are part of the breeding group that bred Who’s Delight, also bred two year old trotting filly Queen Kizen (What The Hill) which won it’s second race in as many starts at Addington on Friday. Queen Kizen is a half sister to Queen Elida (Love You). Queen Elida which Barron and McKenzie also part-own, ran second in last night’s G1 MacArthur Mile at Menangle.

Expensive yearling Chicago Bear (Bettor’s Delight) is started to haul in his purchase price. Bought by Cran Dalgety for $310,000, the now four year old won impressively by two and three quarter lengths at Rangiora today, running the 2000 metre mobile event in 2-26.1 (mile rate of 1-57.5).

CHICAGO BEAR REPLAY

Bred by Roger, Helen, John and Katrina Price the full brother to $2.4 million earner Chicago Bull looks to have a bright future and Katrina and John still have a share in the gelding.

Chicago Bear will now head to the $20,000 Anne Thompson Graduation Final on the same track in two weeks time.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink