Bits N Bridles

Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) has come through her first workout well and will have another hit out before she kicks off her three year old season at Winton on Thursday 3^rd September in a handicap trot.

She will then head to Addington for the Group Two Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Trotting Classique.

Junior Driver Crystal Hackett is closing in on her 200^th winner.

When she achieves that milestone she’ll be only the second female junior driver to win 200 races.

Sarah O’Reilly is the only other female to have driven 200 or more NZ winners as a junior. She reached the milestone in 1,829 drives while Crystal is sitting on 199 from  1,426 drives.

Carter Dalgety holds the overall record – reaching 200 winners from 1,228 drives while Dexter Dunn achieved his 200^th drive from 1,236.

The well bred trotter Tactico (Tactical Landing) qualified impressively at Pukekohe on Tuesday.

Bred by Breckon Farms, the $150,000 sales purchase is trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer and is a half brother to Kyvalley Hotspur (16) and Lovemeto (11).

Another well-bred two year old Jacque, (Lazarus) qualified at Rangiora yesterday.

Trained by Bob Butt the juvenile is out of Lancome, a thirteen win Courage Under Fire mare. Her major wins were in the G1 Four Year Old Diamond and the Listed Sales Series Final. She was trained by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne.

Promising gelding Captain Tyron (Captain Crunch) was back at the trials yesterday.

Trained by Robert and Jenna Dunn the three year old has won three of his four starts.

He ran a close second to the very promising Forever Miki, (Always B Miki) being beaten by a half a head, before winning his next three races in a row. His last win in January was at Nelson when he won over a mile in 1-52.7.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink