Southern Snippets

Gore harness racing winner Major Art (Art Major) looks to have plenty of upside.

Although the three year old did it tough in the last portion of his race at Gore yesterday he was too good for The Wulver, (Buy Kiwi Made) winning by half a neck.

Trained by Craig Ferguson and driven by Mark Hurrell Major Art is out of Glenferrie Classic (Bettor’s Delight) who’s a daughter of New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner (Christian Cullen).

The win further enhances Ferguson’s amazing UDR of .5441 (58-22-13-17). He currently leads the Southland Trainers Premiership, three clear of Nathan Williamson.

Impressive debut winner Itoje (Betterthancheddar) has been sold.

Formerly trained by Brendon McLellan, the five year old infamously put the mobile out of action at the Gore meeting last month when he ducked under the arm, but was still good enough to win on debut by two lengths.

Named after English rugby union lock Maro Itoje, we understand he’s now domiciled at the Williamson barn. The new owners are listed as Boots Properties Racing Pty Ltd.

Itoje is out of McLellan’s very good mare It’s Ella (Washington VC) which won sixteen races including the G2 Caduceus Club of Canterbury Premier Mares Championship twice, and the G1 New Zealand Breeders Stakes.

Aldebaran Park has been confirmed as sponsors for Friday’s Southern Trotting Oaks at the Northern Southland TC meeting at Ascot Park.

The $25,000 feature has been held since 2018 and has been won by Luby Lou (Muscle Hill), Tailored Elegance (Muscle Hill) and Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy).

The Northern Southland Club will also host two heats of the McMillians New Zealand Junior Drivers Championships.

It might have had just five starters but the AON Mobile Pace for two year olds at Gore yesterday was full of drama. Favourite Thor, (Captaintreacherous) was pulled out of the race at the 600 after he refused to go any further despite the urgings of driver Blair Orange.

Lou’s Boy (Sweet Lou) broke and ran off the track rounding the last bend, carting Bettors Way (Bettor’s Delight) into the outside plough.

The race was won by the Mark Jones trained Minos (Bettor’s Delight) by four lengths.

Sand Wave (Somebeachsomewhere) trained by Nathan Williamson won’t be racing at this years New Zealand Cup meeting.

“He’s just had a slight setback and we’ll probably target the Invercargill Cup. He won’t be ready to trial until mid-November,” Williamson said.

The four year old stallion has had a decent break after last racing at Winton in April. He’s the winner of nine of his twenty seven starts and ran third in last season’s New Zealand Derby won by Akuta (Bettor’s Delight).

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink