Bits N Bridles

IRT have not renewed their sponsorship of the New Zealand Cup.

The company has sponsored the iconic feature for the last six years, having taken it on in 2020. The Christchurch Casino had been the sponsors of the Cup for the previous fourteen years.

The last two New Zealand Cup have been run for $1 million.

Step It Up A Notch (Rock N Roll Heaven) trained by Lyndon Bond, is a real southern warrior.

His win at Winton on Sunday was his fourteenth over six seasons of racing and 111 starts.

One of his biggest wins came in the 2024 $30,000 Macca Lodge South of the Waitaki at Addington.

On the pedigree side, his dam Bury My Heart – an In The Pocket mare, won thirteen races for northern trainer Tony Milna and was good enough to run 5^th in the 2007 Group One Queen of Hearts behind some pretty smart types.

At stud Bury My Heart also left Texican one of the first good Bettor’s Delights. His thirteen New Zealand wins included the 2011 G1 Sires’ Stakes Final for two year olds and the 2012 G2 Southern Supremacy Stakes.

As a three year old he won the 2012 Winton Cup in track record time.

Classy gelding Tact McLeod (Sweet Lou) should be heading back to the trails soon.

Injury has curtained his career and his connections have chosen to take the softly softly approach in his pathway back to racing.

His last start was at Menangle in March last year when he ran third behind Don Hugo and Leap To Fame in the G1 Miracle Mile.

The now seven year old had two trials through April and May before Burnham trainer Mark Jones backed off him.

Part-owner Trevor Proctor says Jones is toying with the idea of taking the gelding to Auckland to avoid running into the classy Got The Chocolates.

Smart three year old trotter Imperious Girl (Imperial Count) is back in work for Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson.

Owned by Gore trainer Brian Norman who also bred her, the talented filly won all three of her starts in the south, the second by twelve lengths.

Imperious Girl will be aimed at the Southern Trotting Oaks in October before heading to Addington in November for the G1 New Zealand Trotting Oaks where she’s likely to face the likes of Duchess Maria, Our Col, Petite Armour, Becky’s Girl and New Mexico.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink