Bits N Brides

It was long odds, but the Kirk Larsen trained Wakai Hana (Terror To Love) did what many horses can’t do – he returned to racing after over two years off and won fresh up.

Wakai Hana handled by stable junior Maddy Kyle settled in the trail behind pacemaker Crunchie Dale. Once the passing lane presented Wakai Hana let down nicely to win by three quarters of a length.

Wakai Hana is out of the In The Pocket mare In Bloom, a daughter of champion mare Blossom Lady (43 wins and $1.3 million).

Wakai Hana is named after a 3-minute electronic/dance single released on October 19, 2024 by artist Senogreddy.

It’s been a journey for veteran trotter Son Of Patrick (Father Patrick).

Barry Purdon paid $45,000 for the half-brother to Dominion favourite Gus, at the 2019 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch.

Together with his co-trainer Scott Phelan, they trained him to win seven races before he had a lengthy stint with Michael House, winning two races. Derek and Neita Balle were the gelding’s next trainers, winning a further four races with him.

He also raced in Australia in 2022 having eight starts for just one win.

Now with a tally of 101 starts and fourteen wins, Son of Patrick’s training has been taken over by Neita’s partner Zev Meredith.

Two ex-Southland trained pacers Ward Lamon (Downbytheseaside) and Party Up Denario (Lather Up) have been on winning sprees since joining new stables.

Ward Lamon formerly trained by Kirk Larsen, won three of his fifty four starts before the stable change. He’s won his last three for new trainers Peter and Mitchell Robertson.

Party Up Denario had thirty starts for Brett Gray before he joined Darren Keast’s barn where he’s also won three from three, the last win coming at Ascot Park last week.

Three long standing races will be held at Ashburton on Monday.

The Hambletonian Classic has been held since 1986, so this will be the 40^th running of the three year old trotting feature.

For thirty five years it was held over 1609 metres before being switched to 1700 metres in 2022.

The current race record of 2-03.0 is held by last year’s winner Ya Rite Darl.

Only five winners of the Hambletonian have gone on to win the New Zealand Derby; Five Wise Men (2021), Escapee (2012), Zuri (2004), Flame Up (1999) and Above The Stars (1995).

The race has been run over 1700 metres since 2021 and Muscle Mountain’s time of 1-59.6 in that year is the current race record.

This year will be the 71^st running of the Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Twelve of the winners have gone on to win the New Zealand Cup, the last being Lazarus in 2017.

The current race record of 2-54.2 was set eight years ago by Eamon Maguire.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink