News briefs – 11th August

News briefs from Harness Racing New Zealand.

Fasika off to Oz     

It’s one and done for Fasika. The Laurence Hanrahan bred, owned and trained filly won on debut at Addington on July 23, and has now been sold to Australia.

The Sweet Lou three-year-old will this week head to New South Wales, and join the stable of leading Bathurst trainer-driver Amanda Turnbull.

Brad has 50th winner

Brad Williamson trained his 50th winner when Shards Fury and Kerryn Tomlinson won at Addington on Sunday.

The youngest of three trainer-driver siblings Brad has also driven 354 winners in this country, and had multiple Group One success with Majestic Man across the Tasman. Brad Williamson has been training since 2018, and driving since 2012.

Double figure increase in turnover

Hambletonian day is billed as America’s biggest day of harness racing. And this year it was bigger than usual, with turnover up 13 per cent to $US6.4m ($NZ9.15m). As expected the $1m Hambletonian, won by Captain Corey, led the way with turnover of $NZ1.2m. Dexter Dunn had four winners on the day, as did fellow ex pat Kiwi, trainer Nifty Norman.

No Arty Party

Superstar pacer Lochinvar Art (Modern Art) is definitely out of the Inter-dominions. The five-year-old star, who’s won 28 races, has been sidelined with a leg injury. There had been hopes he’d be back for the Interdoms in New South Wales in November but a scan has shown he is too far behind schedule and that he won’t race again this year.

Chase heading home

Chase Auckland (Auckland Reactor) has been officially farewelled in Canterbury, after being retired from racing in July following on-going leg problems.

Around 25 syndicate members, including some from the North Island, gathered at the weekend to say goodbye. He won 14 races including seven Listed or Group features and will head north today to his breeders Ann and Tony Parker’s property in the Waikato.

Club News : Southern Harness

Southern Harness Racing are keen to hear from any groups that would like to have an outing at the races, with many Cup Days and premier race events scheduled for the summer months. Pre-Christmas the Wairio Trotting Club will host their annual Christmas meeting at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Saturday 18 December. There’s also a new date on the calendar, a Christmas Eve meeting with the Winton Harness Racing Club, also at Central Southland Raceway.

Inquiries regarding sponsorship, or attending race meetings with a group, are welcome by contacting Lindsay Beer, Southern Harness Racing’s Promotions Officer, on 021 351 499 or at lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz

HRNZ