Bits N Bridles

It was a great night for Southern Bred Southern Reared horses at Gloucester Park last Friday night.

I’m Stealthy (Downbytheseaside) bred by Macca Lodge, won the first race with Havtimeformiki (Always B Miki) bred by Murray Little finishing second and D Mac (Downbytheseaside) bred by the Morris family finishing third, making it an SBSR trifecta.

Other SBSR horses to win on the night were Hammer Down (Always B Miki) bred by Steve Baucke, Our Twinkle (Ultimate Machete) bred by Marty Fairbairn and Miki Windermere (Always B Miki) who was bred by the Tither family. Reon Tither is the grandson of the late Murray Faul who passed away in Invercargill earlier last month.

Riley Butt and his uncle Anthony had a great night at Albion Park on Saturday.

Twenty three year old Riley who is the son of Tim Butt, trained two winners and Anthony had a share in both.

Great warhorse Triple Eight (American Ideal) was back in the winner’s circle at Melton on Saturday and is slowly closing in on a couple of major milestones.

The eleven year old gelding trained by Jess Tubbs is just six starts away from achieving his 200^th start and $27,494 away from winning $1million.

He was initially trained by Steve Telfer and Steve and Amanda Telfer, winning twelve races in New Zealand before he headed to Australia.

Tubbs has won a further twenty one races with Triple Eight – sixteen at Melton.

He’s still owned by the same group that’s raced him for the majority of his career.

Tubbs breeding roots stem from the deep south. He’s out of Slangevar, a Cameleon mare out of Lucky Chip who was bred by Invercargill vet the late Peter Williams and his wife Jan.

This Friday the Ian Dobson Memorial ‘Johnny Globe ‘Three Year Old Classic will be run at Addington.

As a racehorse Johnny Globe won 34 of his 99 starts. He broke four world records and won fifteen Free for Alls which was at the time the greatest number recorded by any horse in New Zealand.

He retired with earnings of 42,887 pounds and 10 shillings, the largest amount for a standardbred or thoroughbred solely in New Zealand.

His wins included Timaru Nursery Stakes, the Great Northern Derby, the New Zealand Derby, the Hannon Memorial (2) the Ashburton All Age Stakes, the New Zealand Cup and the New Zealand FFA (2).

He was officially farewelled at the New Brighton meeting at Addington in December 1956 as the band played ‘When Johnny Comes Marching In.’

As a sire Johnny Globe left Lordship which won the Cup in 1962 and 1966, and Globe Derby the 1972 New Zealand Cup winner. Other good winners for him were Chequer Board, Berkleigh, Cee Ar and Fait Accompli.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink