Despite Southland having its best summer in years, the dry hot conditions didn’t produce the number of track records we might have expected.
Whereas last season over thirty track records were broken, this season the numbers were down with only thirteen pacing and seven trotting records broken across the province, including Southern tracks in Central Otago.
The leading track for breaking records was Ascot Park Invercargill, with two pacing records and four trotting records broken.
The two pacing records were three year old Christian Cullen gelding Karmic Way which recorded 2-04.43 for the 1700 metre mobile which was also a Southland record, and two year old colt A Bettor Act which ran 2200 metres from the mobile in 2-40.6, a new Southland and New Zealand record.
Luby Lou, the winner of the inaugural Southland Trotting Oaks ran a new Southland record at Ascot Park when she recorded 2-47.9 for her 2200 metre mobile win.
War Admiral showed his potential when he won over the same distance in 2-48.0 which was also a track and Southland record.
Finally quality two year old trotter Full Noise which debuted over 2700 metres from the stand against older opposition, created a new two year old track, Southland and National record when he trotted the distance in 3-35.0.
Central Southland Raceway proved to be the fastest track in the province though with Franco Santino recording the fastest mile time of the season in the province when he won in March in a time of 1-52.0. It was also a Southland record for three year old colts and geldings.
Somejoy added to her record when she broke the four year old and older mare’s track record running the mile in 1-53.2.
Two trotters to break records this season on the Winton track were Jen Jaccka 3-00.9 for the 2400 metre stand which was also a New Zealand record, and Sundons Wish which ran 3-02.5 over the same distance to break the Open Entires and Geldings record.
Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham had four records broken this season.
The Robbie Holmes trained Kiwi On Show recorded a 1-52.2 mile time and broke the Mares and All-Comers record while War Dan Delight broke the long standing Kindergarten Stakes race record when he posted 1-53.3 for the 1609 metre mobile. His time was also a track and Southland record for his age.
Kiwi On Show – Photo Bruce Stewart.
The other track record holder was the ill-fated Steiger which recorded 2-57.2 to break the 2400 metre stand record of aged entires and geldings.
Omakau was the home of two track records this season; Maidonthebeach posted 2-27.5 for the 2000 metre mobile, a new mare’s track record, while Hicori ran his 2600 metre standing start in 3-20.9. A new record for three year old colts and geldings.
At Roxburgh two records were broken. War Machine ran 3-28.2 over 2700 metres from the stand and Deliska broke the 2700 metre stand record when she won the Roxburgh Cup in 3-25.0.
The Gore all weather surface produced just one track record when Nemura Franco broke the three year old fillies’ record for the 2200 metre mobile, winning in 2-41.4.
No records were broken this season at the Gore grass track meeting while at Ascot Park at its first grass meeting in years, seven new records were created.
At Cromwell on the grass two pacing and one trotting records were broken. Leah Mac broke Idealistic Lass’s mare's record over 1800 metres from the mobile. The new record is 2-13.8. Idealistic Lass remained in the record books however when she recorded 3-22.7 over 2600 metres from the stand.
On the trotting front the promising Kenny’s Dream broke Dark Horse's three year old fillies record for the 2600 metre stand recording 3-28.8.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing