Bits and Bridles

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With three wins over two days last week Northern reinsman Andre Poutama is heading for a record season.

Last season he drove 59 which is his current PB, but three and a half months into the new harness racing season he’s already driven 41 winners and is only one win away from driving 450.

Former Southland trained pacer Washington Lass continues to do a fine job as a broodmare in Australia for her owner John Polson.

The Washington VC mare was bred by Wyndham breeder Ian Hunter and had ten starts for Russell Ferguson, winning twice before she was sold to Polson.

At stud all six of her foals of racing age have won;  Blacksdance (28), Big Wheels (29), Awaywego (19), Attachment (17), Arrive (10) and Barsby (3).

Blacksdance raced in numerous Group One features and his best win was in the G2 Queensland Cup. Big Wheels’ biggest win was in the Qbred Triad Final for two year old colts and geldings. Attachment also won the same race as a two year old.

The mare’s latest star Arrive, has won ten of her eighteen starts including the G1 Qbred Triad Final for three year old fillies.

Washington Lass has won Queensland Broodmare of the Year multiple times.

Winton trainers John and Katrina Price brought up their 50^th winner when Chicago Sky won at Ascot Park last Thursday.

The Prices don’t train big numbers, preferring to concentrate on their bloodstock business and tend to send most of their racing fillies such as Ruby Roe and Duchess Maria on to Nathan Williamson to train.

Their first winner was Surprise Party at Gore in October 2023.

Quality Lazarus pacer Jeremiah is back on the active list for Clevedon trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

The winner of seven of his twenty starts last raced at Alexandra Park in October and was then turned out.

“He just had a couple of wee niggly things that he needed to get over,” Phelan said.

Lou’s Deal (Sweet Lou) provided Southland junior driver Rebecca Heads with her third winning drive and her first since October 2019.

To add to the day she also owns and trains the gelding and it was the first time she’s trained and driven one of her horses to win.

It was the sixth win for Lou’s Deal and his first since January 2024.

There are three Group One races across the country this weekend – the Taylor Mile and Anzac Cup in Auckland and the Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic in Invercargill.

This year will be the fortieth running of the Taylor Mile.

The race was originally for four year olds but controversially in 2022 it was opened to all ages. The distance of the race has varied between 1700 and 1609 metres with the current distance set at 1609.

The race record of 1-51.6 is held by last year’s winner We Walk By Faith.

The Anzac Cup for trotters also takes centre stage. I Can Doosit, Stent, Monbet and Muscle Mountain are all on the honours board but topping all those great trotters is Sundees Son who won the race over three successive years.

His winning time of 2-41.3 in 2021 is the race record.

The Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic is in its twelfth year.

The inaugural winner in 2015 was Lazarus. Mark Purdon with various training combinations have won the race six times.

The race record of 2-39.6 is held by 2021 winner You’re So Fine.

Jumal won last year’s edition.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink

This content was first released to The Insider subscribers. Don’t wait days for the edge on the latest news. Get our previews, selections, and insights early by joining our free newsletter The Insider.