Bits and Bridles

2024 is certainly a season of change for harness racing with All Stars Racing announcing Blair Orange will be their number one driver for the future.

Orange has driven full time for the stable in the past and he’s already driven 396 winners for Mark Purdon and his various training partnerships. The first winner for Mark was Ohoka Atom at Addington in October 2002.

With the changing of the guard it’s important to acknowledge the wonderful run Natalie Rasmussen has had for All Stars.

During the past twelve years she’s driven 378 winners in this country, with 343 of those in the All Stars colours. Her first winner for Purdon was Vi Et Animo in the 2011 Methven Cup.

68 of her All Star wins have been at Group One level, 27 in Group Two, 25 in Group Three and she’s won18 Listed races.

She has dominated races like The Nevele R Fillies Series Final (6), New Zealand Oaks (6), Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic (4), New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Fillies Championship (4) and Sires Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Championship (5). She’s also won two Auckland Cups, the New Zealand Cup, New Zealand Derby and numerous other feature races.

Two open class pacers will have new trainers for the second half of the 2024 season. As reported earlier by Harnesslink, We Walk By Faith (Bettor’s Delight) owned by Denis and Mark Dunford has transferred to Hayden Cullen’s West Melton stable and has been joined by Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) which the Dunford’s also have a share in.

Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) has also changed stable, moving from John Dickie’s barn in the north to Bob Butt at Woodend Beach.

Macca Lodge stallion Fear The Dragon continued his good run as a sire with Jungle Dragon winning the $30,600 HRNSW Two Year Old Bred Final at Menangle on Saturday night.

Trained by Peter Rixon the gelding came from last to win by 3.5 metres, running the 1609 metres in 1-54.4.

Somebeachsomewhere stallion Sunshine Beach sired a double at Addington yesterday.

Farewell Spit won for trainer Andrew Stuart and Vrilo for Jackie Burrows.

Unlike other sons of Somebeachsomewhere such as Captaintreacherous and Downbytheseaside, Sunshine Beach hasn’t set the world on fire. But he’s left some handy horses that have got better with age.

Ohoka Conno the winner of ten races is his standout in New Zealand, with Bondi Lustre (6), Cardi B (6) and Beach Day (4) being solid performers. His best Australian winners have been Sonny Weaver (38 wins), Alta Revelry (15), Melton Beach (12), Miss Ruby Sunshine (11) and Mr Ibiza (9).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink