Bits and Bridles

Two open class pacers – Macandrew Aviator (Panspacificflight) and The Big Lebowski (Mach Three) have returned to the south.

After campaigning in Canterbury for Stephen Boyd, Macandrew Aviator is now in the care of Ascot Park trainer Jeremy Douglas. The eight year old last started in the Hannon Memorial in September, finishing third behind Republican Party and Pinseeker. He won one race for Boyd and a further eight for Kirstin Green. He has an R81 rating.

The Big Lebowski has also returned south to Brett Gray’s Ryal Bush stable. Owned by Merv and Meg Butterworth the gelding was until his return, in the care of Ray Green. His last start was in the Auckland Cup. He won three races for Green and his breeder Robin Swain trained him to win five.

Gray says The Big Lebowski will be tried at a trotter.

Canterbury trainer Michael House enjoyed success at Manawatu last night with five winners, but the number is not a record for the well travelled horseman.

In February 2019 House won seven of the nine races carded at the Manawatu meeting.

House currently leads the New Zealand Trainers Premiership with 22 wins while his son Wilson who drove four of his father’s winners last night, leads the Junior Drivers Premiership with 16 wins.

Driver Ben Hope expects Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill) to improve on his run last Friday in the Summer FFA.

“My parents thought he’d be a run short and didn’t want me to leave the gate. I let him do his own thing and he just came to the end of it the last 100 – 200 metres. We’re not too worried and are looking forward to the months ahead,” driver Ben Hope said.

There are plenty of opportunities for Muscle Mountain in the next two months and Cullen Breeding who race the gelding hold a slot in the $600,000 The TAB Trot slot race at Cambridge on April 4th.

At the Ashburton trials last week master trotting trainer Paul Nairn qualified two year old pacer Lookin Snazzy (Bettor’s Delight).

Within Nairn’s 423 career wins he’s only ever trained the winner of two pacing races which occurred when Outamyway won two races at the Westport two day meeting in December 2021.

Lookin Snazzy was sold to Nairn for $30,000 at last year’s NZB Standardbred Sale in Christchurch when offered by Dancingonmoonlight Limited.

All eyes will be on the upcoming NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales this Saturday and Tuesday.

One that caught my eye was Zepplin, a Downbytheseaside colt out of Zariya who’s a half-brother to the well performed Pacing Hope and Major Grace.

He’s part of the Shard Farm draft being offered by Mark and Debbie Smith.

The well put together colt is one of 53 yearlings being offered at the Christchurch sale under the SBSR brand.

The NZB Standardbred Yearlings Sales start in Auckland on Saturday from 1pm and then move to the Canterbury Agricultural Park, getting underway at 11am next Tuesday morning. The sale action can be viewed on the NZB Standardbred website.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink