Bits N Bridles

Sam Thornley might not have driven in Tuesday’s New Zealand Cup but his cart was in the race and it was behind winner and champ Leap To Fame.

Duchess Maria’s win last Friday in the New Zealand Trotting Oaks was Nathan Williamson’s 500^th as a trainer.

In the next two seasons it’s likely the Branxholme trainer will become the leading Southland trainer of all time.

In front of him is Hamish Hunter on 589. Hunter doesn’t have big horse numbers these days and his winners has slowed down, whereas Williams runs big numbers and has a high strike rate.

His first feature win was in the 2017 Uncut Gems Trotters Classic with Dark Horse and he’s won three G1 races – two with Captains Mistress and one with Duchess Maria.

The G2 $75,000 Adore Me will be run for the first time tomorrow.

Adore Me was trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen she won 26 of her 36 starts, earning $1.6 million. She won eleven Group One races including the 2014 New Zealand Cup. Also on her CV were two Queen of Hearts, the Nevele R/New Zealand Oaks double and an Easter Cup.

Prominent breeders John and Katrina Price had the misfortune recently to lose one of their foundation mares Democrat Party.

The Prices bred Democrat Party in 2011 and as a racehorse she won six races.

Her major wins were in the G1 Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship and G2 Delightful Lady Stakes.

In the G1 Sires’ Stakes Fillies Championship her winning time of 2-37.1 was a New Zealand record.

As a two and three year old she raced against the likes of Supersonic Miss, Fight For Glory, The Orange Agent and Linda Lovelace.

However it was as a broodmare that Democrat Party excelled, leaving top liners Republican Party 27 wins and $1,348,646, War Party 4 wins and $42,112 and Tour Party 7 wins and $231,763.

Democrat Party also forged an outstanding record at the yearling sales with her foals generating $600,000 for the couple – Republican Party $210,000, War Party $240,000 and Tour Party $150,000.

Nathan Williamson looks to have produced another classy three year old for Australian owner Mick Boots.

Meshino (Bettor’s Delight) impressively won his first start at Winton on Sunday.

He was bred by Dancingonmoonlight Farm and sold to Boots at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales for $155,000.

Meshino is out of Idolise making him a full brother to Braeview Kelly (19) and Cut N Run (12). He’s a half brother to Ohoka Connor (10).

Faith Not Fear’s win at Addington on Cup Day further enhanced his dam Imaginary Bet’s record as a broodmare.

She has now left the winners of twelve Group One races – Captains Mistress (8), Merlin (3) and Faith Not Fear (1).

Both Merlin and Captains Mistress are million pacers and Captains Mistress is just $25,000 away from edging past Merlin stakes wise.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink