Harness Scene

ANOTHER NEW ZEALAND RECORD FOR SOVEREIGNTY

Sovereignty (3gMonarchy-Lockerup) showed again just how talented he is when he won the NRM Sires Stakes Trotters Championship, a $90,000 Group Two 2200 metre mobile trot for three year olds, at Alexandra Park, Auckland on Friday night. Driven by Maurice Mc Kendry wearing the yellow Harness Jewels colours, Sovereignty settled four back for the first part of the race, moved forward at the 1200 metre mark and was in the lead 1000 out from home. The challenge in the straight came from Running On Time (3g Sundon-Springfield Lauren), the Murray Edmonds trained runner driven by Tony Herlihy. Sovereignty held him by half a head, in a time of 2.44.6, the last 800 in 59.3, the last 400 in 28.5. This set a new New Zealand record for a three year old trotter over 2200 metres from a mobile start. The previous record was 2.45.9, set by Zuri in 2004. Sovereignty also holds the three year old trotters New Zealand record for the same distance from a stand at 2.50.8. He now has had ten race starts for seven wins and two seconds.

Sovereignty’s trainer, Sean Mc Caffrey said last week that the horse had improved with his trip to Addington last month, where he ran second to Dr Mickey (3g Dr Ronerail-Jo Anne) in the New Zealand Trotting Derby. Last night Dr Mickey finished eight lengths behind Sovereignty, in fifth place. Next Friday night they will meet again in the Breckon Bloodstock Northern Derby at Alexandra Park, a $75,000, Group One event over 2700 metres. Sean says the longer distance will suit Sovereignty.

Following on from the Derby, it is intended that Sovereignty will line up at Cambridge on the 15th May in the Cambridge Trotting Stakes a $20,000 Listed Race for three year olds over 2200 metres, then it will be on to the $100,000 Harness Jewels race on 31st May at Cambridge. Sovereignty currently leads the list of eligible horses for the three year old trotters event on that day. There is plenty more excitement coming up for Sovereignty’s owners, Charlie and Annette Hunter in the next month and that is as far as plans have been made so far in what is early days in the career of this exceptionally good horse.

The other Cambridge trained horse who impressed on Friday evening was Romper Stomper (9g Armbro Invasion-Iola Hanover ), trained by John Dickie, he was driven by Tony Herlihy, to win the six or more win handicap trot, beating home a top line up of opposition in the lead up to this week’s Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night. In a solid return to top form, Romper Stomper won by 1 ½ lengths from Inspire, with Awesome Imace third, and the favourites for the race, Houdini Star and Mountbatten coming in fourth and fifth. Romper Stomper has proved before he can more than hold his own in top company, in November he won the Group One NZ Trotting Free For All. On Friday night he came off their backs in the home straight, running home strongly in 3.30.2. for the 2700 metres.

SOVEREIGNTY FAVOURITE FOR TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Trainer Sean McCaffrey says top three year old trotting gelding, Sovereignty (Monarchy- Lockerup), has come back even better after his trip to Addington last month, where he ran a close second to Dr Mickey in the New Zealand Trotters Derby. This Friday night Sovereignty lines up in the $90,000 NRM Sire’s Stakes Trotters Championship, a Group Two mobile trot over 2200 metres for three year olds at Alexandra Park, and Sean is confident the horse is up to the challenge. With just eight race starts under his belt, five wins and two seconds, Sovereignty has learnt a lot from his trip away, he has drawn well at five and with Maurice McKendry in the driving seat should go out favourite. He lined up at the workouts at Cambridge last Saturday against the pacers for mobile practice, and ran away from them, covering the last 800 metres in 58.7, the last 400 in 28.7. Sovereignty holds first place on the three year old trotters list for the Harness Jewels at Cambridge on 31st May.

MISS SHARVID WINS BOTH DAYS AT TARANAKI

The good mare, Miss Sharvid (7m Sharvid Adios-Eileen Rose) showed she has no ideas of retiring to the breeding paddock just yet. On the first day of the Taranaki Trotting Club’s two day meeting on the grass, she took out the $10,000 Taranaki Breeders Stakes convincingly in the hands of trainer/driver, Nicky Chilcott, 3 ¼ lengths in front of Scherger Rain (7m Sir Vancelot-Irish Beauty) completing the 1750 metres in 2.19.2. On the second day she beat the same mare again when she took out the 1750 metre Free For All. This time the margin was one length and the time was 2.18.1. This makes eight career wins to date for Miss Sharvid.

ROGERSON/SIMPSON TEAM RUNS WELL AT CAMBRIDGE WORKOUTS

Saturday morning at Cambridge Raceway and thirty eight horses started in the workouts, and some good sectionals were run during the morning.

The training partnership of Graeme Rogerson and Peter Simpson had some runners who put in good solid runs.

In the two and three year old mobile pace over 1700 metres, they lined up Long May He Reign(2g Julius Caesar-Astro Reign). Driven by Peter Ferguson, he came home well in front of the other two runners, winning in a time of 2.10.2, the last 800 in 58.9, the last 400 in 29.1. The gelding has yet to trial.

In the second non winners pace over 2200 metres, Carlos (4g Christian Cullen-Precious Vance) from the same stable, came home well for driver Simon Lawson . Time for the race was 2.46.6, the last 800 in 59.4, the last 400 in 29.9. Carlos has not raced since New Year.

And again in the two to four win pace over 2700 metres , again from the Rogerson/Simpson barn Top Tempo (4m In The Pocket –Kliklite ) came home three lengths clear of Geoffrey Clement in 2.49, the 800 in 57.6, the 400 in 28.2. Top Tempo has also been out for a couple of months and starts fresh on Thursday night at Cambridge where she has drawn four in a 2200 metre pace with a three to four win front.

Then once again in the two to six win trot, Cornishman (8g Armbro Invasion-Merrijigs) took out the heat three lengths clear of the Nicky Chilcott trained Jewel qualifier, Alien Waits. Cornishman went from the 20metre mark, Alien Waits from the 10. Time for the heat was 3.37.5, the last 800 in 59.4, the last 400 in 29.3. Cornishman who had his first start for the Rogerson barn at Auckland in November where he ran eigth lines up on Thursday night also. Cornishman is a six win horse who comes north from the stable of Roger Marshall at Christchurch.

In the other maiden 2200 metre pace of the morning, Aslan (2c McArdle-Jeneva ) trained by Mike Berger, came home a head in front of the Todd Mitchell trained, Outback Jack (3g Falcon’s Icon-Champelle) Time for the heat was 2.52.4, with the last 800 in 59.6, the last 400 in 29.3. Both these horses make their racing debut in the same race on Thursday evening, with Outback Jack getting the better draw at one and Aslan at eleven.

The two year old trot over a mile, had two starters, John Dickie’s filly (Dream Vacation-Catherine the Great) came home half a length in front of Muscle and Power (Muscles Yankee-Royal Heights) Rogerson/Simpson, in a time of 2.07.4, the last 800 in 60.2, the last 400 in 28.6. Both horses line up in the first race at Cambridge, the NRM Sires Stakes heat over 2200 metres. Great Getaway is currently holding second place on the two year old trotters list for the Harness Jewels in May, behind Pocaro.

BATTLE BEGINS FOR TWO VERY GOOD TROTTERS

The first part of a battle between two very talented three year old trotters was played out at the Saturday morning workouts at Cambridge Raceway, and although the two participants raced in different heats, they both won impressively and were both in preparation for the same race, the $75,000 Group One Trotting Derby at Addington, Christchurch on 28th March.

Sovereignty (3g Monarchy-Lockerup) trained by Sean Mc Caffrey, and owned by Charlie and Annette Hunter, which has now had seven race starts for five wins, started in the maiden pacing heat in order to obtain mobile start practice,.

Real Deal Yankee (3g Dream Vacation-Catherine The Great), trained by John Dickie took out the one two seven win trot stylishly. Real Deal Yankee, who is raced by John along with Joe Neems, Eddie, Jack and Bruce Davies, was bred by John, and is a half brother to Last Sunset, the very good group one winner who John also trained. Real Deal Yankee has now won five races from eleven starts, including the Group Three Hambletonian Classic at Ashburton last month.

Following the Trotting Derby there are a number of Group and Listed Races coming up for three year old trotters during April and May, including the Group Two Sires’ Stakes Trotters Championship, and the Group One Great Northern Derby, at Alexandra Park and the Listed Cambridge Trotting Stakes. Whether either Sovereignty or Real Deal Yankee will start in these is yet to be decided.

Then on Saturday 31st May at Cambridge, the second running of the $1,500,000 Harness Jewels Day takes place at Cambridge Raceway. Both Sovereignty and Real Deal Yankee are at present in first and second place respectively on the list of qualifiers for the three year old trotters heat. Qualification for this day is dependant on stakes won over the last season with cut off day being 19th May.

Altogether it has been a very satisfying week for John Dickie, on Tuesday he won the non-tote two year old mobile trot at the Kumeu Trotting Club Meeting, at Alexandra Park, Auckland, with Great Get Away (2f Dream Vacation-Catherine The Great) The filly who is a full sister to Real Deal Yankee was having her second race start, she was second in her first start at Auckland last month. Driven by Toss Mitchell, she won comfortably by fifteen lengths in a time of 2.14.4. The win sees Great Get Away go straight to second placing on the list for Harness Jewels qualifiers in the two year old trotters section.

The filly is owned by John along with his business partner, Richard Bright, who together own the Clubhouse Sportsbar at the Cambridge Raceway, which was also the sponsor of Tuesday’s race.

At the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Friday night, John took out the four year old and older one win junior drivers pace over 2200 metres, with Knight Jasper (5g Knight Jasper-Kind Matar). Driven by Gary Gillies, he sat in the trail, taking the passing lane and putting in a huge effort in the straight to win by a head in a close finish with Jazz Bromac in a time of 2.45.0. Knight Jasper was 6/7 in the betting and paid a very nice dividend of $18.50 and $4.40.

The horse is part owned by the Clubhouse Sports Bar Syndicate along with Basil Blackwell

Other local winners over the last week were Lucky Veelo (3f Falcon Seelster-Vance Vegan) having her second race start, won the maiden fillies and mares 1700 metre pace at the Kumeu Meeting on Tuesday. Time for the race was a very good 2.05.5, a mile rate of 1.58.7. The win followed up good workout form at Cambridge over the last weeks. Lucky Veelo is trained by Mike Berger and was driven by Phillip Butcher.

Nicky Chilcott trained and drove a nice winner at Auckland on Friday night in O’Sheas (7g Il Vicolo-Sure Lobell) in the two or more win handicap trot over 2700 metres. O’Sheas has now had two wins since coming to Nicky late last year from the Bruce Negus stable in Canterbury. The gelding went away well from the stand, sat parked, getting cover in the middle stages, was pulled out and went to the lead 500 metres from home, proving too strong in the straight.

Other horses to go well at the workouts were the David Odlum trained Presidential Belle (4m Presidential Belle-Nuclear Atom who won the up to seven win pace over 2200 metres in 2.49.0, the last 800 in 58.7, the 400 in 29.8. The mare last raced in December.

Allclout (4g Lotsa Clout-Platinum Miss) trained by Gordon Newberry put in a big run to win the one win pace over 220 metres in a time of 2.51.4.

Arna Donnelly drove the Ray Bradley trained Supper Waltz Wilson to win the maiden trot over 2200 metresin 3.06.7.

Races again at Cambridge Raceway this Thursday evening 20th March. Come along for an excellent nights entertainment.

WORLD OF DREAMS STORMS HOME IN FILLIES RACE

A local Cambridge runner gave an impressive performance in the 1700 metre listed race for two year old fillies at the Auckland Cup Meeting, at Alexandra Park, Auckland, on Friday night.

Having just it’s second race start for trainer Kevin Shaw, World of Dreams (Dream Away-Lost Traveller), driven by Maurice McKendry, came from well back at the top of the home straight and made an enormous run, blitzing the opposition in a time of 2.05.4, the last 800 in 59.0, the last 400 in 28.7, a mile rate of 1.58.6.

Kevin bred the filly and races it together with his wife Cathie. He also trained the dam Lost Traveller (Road Machine-Show Me The Way) who won six races. World Of Dreams is her first foal. The win has qualified the filly for the Harness Jewels in May, the stake taking her to second place on the list of eligible two year old fillies.