Bits and Bridles

If The Dark Horse winner Eurostyle makes next months Renwick Farms Dominion Handicap, trainers Derek and Adele Jones will be looking for a change of luck.

They trained Majestic Lavros which started in the 2022 Dominion won by Sundees Son, but he broke at the 700, finishing thirteenth.

If Eurostyle’s usual driver Kim Butt takes the reins she’ll have a bit of catching up to do on her father Anthony. He’s won the great race eight times driving Vulcan (2011), Mountbatten (2007), Lyall Creek (1999, 2000 and 2004) and Take A Moment (2001,2002 and 2003).

Ready Cash stallion En Solitaire produced his first qualifier when the Tim Trathen trained Mollys Remedy qualified at Ashburton last Monday.

En Solitaire which stands at Macca Lodge, has twelve three year olds and twenty three two year olds on the ground.

When veteran pacer Franco Huntington (Changeover) won at Ascot Park yesterday in the hands of John Morrison it was the horse’s seventeenth win in 258 starts. Morrison has driven him for nine of those wins and it’s the eighth time the twelve year old has won on the Invercargill surface.

He’s now banked $176,034 for his owner trainer Doug McLachlan.

A new ruling will come into effect from 1^st November. Except for safety reasons or in an emergency, drivers once they are on the track and prior to a start, will not be permitted to talk to one another until they’ve passed the finish line.

The new rule was passed by just one vote at Saturday’s HRNZ AGM.

The rule change was submitted by the HRNZ Board and supported by the Harness Racing Drivers Association. The Board  stated that drivers talking on the track is perceived as a bad look for the sport.

Sultan Of Swing’s (Downbytheseaside) win at Ascot Park on Sunday extends the legacy of the wonderful broodmare Satire Franco.

Bred by Macca Lodge, Sultan Of Swing is out of a daughter of Satire Franco – Dunrobin, which won two races for Brent Shirley.

Dunrobin is one of three fillies left by Satire Franco. Glorafilia won two races here and a further two in Australia. I Smart won six and has left three foals of racing age – B Smart (3 wins), Smart I Am (4) and Eurobeat (9).

Satire Franco has left nine winners who collectively have won sixty one races. They include When The Musics Over (16), Costa Del Magnifico (15) and Rowchester (11).

Brad Steele CEO of HRNZ will host two presentations entitled The Future Starts Now for breeders and industry participants to communicate the long term strategy for growth and sustainability for harness racing.

Attendees can hear the specifics around racing and breeding and Martin Pierson from the NZ Sires Stakes Board will speak on the growth of opportunities under the banner of “Our Most Trusted Brand.”

The first talk will be in Christchurch at Addington Raceway between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday 31st October whilst the second will be held in Southland on Wednesday 6th November at the Makarewa Country Club beginning at 7.00pm.

Drummershavtime’s (Art Major) winning time of 2-02.5 for the 1700 metre mobile at Ascot Park on Sunday was a new track record for two year old colts and geldings. The previous record of 2-02.8 was held by Duke Of Cornwall.

Drummershavtime was bred by Murray Little. He was a business partner of the late Lester Smith who bred and raced Duke Of Cornwall.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink