Bits and Bridles

It was great to see Sunday’s Timaru Nursery Stakes draw a strong field of two year olds.

The juvenile feature was run consistently between 1937 and 2000 before it was off the scene for 20 plus years, returning in 2022.

Some great horses have won over the years including Lordship, Tactile, Young Quinn, Hilarious Guest, Master Mood and Tuapeka Knight.

Sunday’s winner was Freeze Frame (Bettor’s Delight) trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driven by his son Carter. The winning time for the 2050 metres of 2-31.5 (mile rate of 1-58.9) was a new race record.

Smart southern filly Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) is getting close to returning to racing in this country.

The three year old last raced in the Queensland Oaks in July, finishing third behind Soho Americano and Cool And Classy.

“She had three weeks off in Australia, then had four weeks of training before she arrived back here, so it was just a matter of finishing her off. This spring weather is a bit tricky but she looks healthy, is eating well and has settled back into home well,” said trainer Nathan Williamson.

Captains Mistress will run in the final heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Ashburton on October 27^th before racing in the $200,000 final on Cup Day and the $225,000 New Zealand Oaks ten days later.

Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) also from the Williamson stable, is earmarked to race at the Northern Southland meeting Thursday week.

“I’m really happy with him. He had a bit of a hoof abscess following his last race at Addington which is why he hasn’t been seen for the last few weeks. He’ll race at Northern Southland then on to the Tuapeka Cup later in the month.”

The Ashburton Trotting Club along with Dancingonmoonlight Farm are offering a service fee to Tattoo Artist available for tender in his first season in New Zealand.

Tattoo Artist was the winner of 40 races, 23 of which were paced in 1:50.0 or faster. He has a lifetime best mark of 1:47.1 and he won over $3.2 million.

He met the legendary pacer Bulldog Hanover five times, he never finished further back than third and was named 2020 O’Brien Three Year Old Colt of the Year and 2023 O’Brien Aged Pacer Of The Year.

He has already covered 150 mares in his first two seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tattoo Artist’s progeny are both Harness 5000 and Next Gen eligible.

Further details are available on the Ashburton Trotting Club facebook page or email  office@ashburtonraceway.co.nz

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink