Bits N Bridles

Muscle Hill stallion Propulsion registered his first New Zealand winner when the trotter Jetstream trained by Alan Clark won at Invercargill on Monday.

The two year old led for most for the trip and won by a neck.

He’s out of the Majestic Son mare Juneamy Castleton which won four races for Mark Jones. At stud she’s left BD Castleton (2), Salute Stride (5) and the talented but ill-fated Cracker Hill (7).

Propulsion stands at Trump Bloodstock Talagalla in Queensland.

After a lengthy absence, the “Rising Stars” is making a comeback.

HRNZ is bringing back the series, for 3YO Pacing Colts and Geldings, as a key build-up to the 2026 spring classic season.

The name is a nod to the former Group race for three-year-olds that started in the early 1980s and went through to the 2000s. Among its high profile winners were the likes of Dillon Dean, Chokin, Christian Cullen and Courage Under Fire.

Two $15,000 heats will be run for up to two-win 3YO male pacers, on Friday, July 31 and Friday, August 14 before a $30,000 final a week later (August 21).

All will be over 1980 metres, at Addington.

The first four home in each heat is guaranteed a place in the final. It will be held two weeks before the start of the 3YO Classics that get underway with the Ian Dobson Memorial – Johnny Globe Classic at Addington on Friday, September 4.

Former Southern trotter Johns Boy (Simon Royden) continues to do a good job for Victorian trainer Brent Lilley.

The squaregaiter which is still owned in New Zealand, won four races for Lindsay Veint before heading to Australia in 2025. He’s won a further seven races there and has now earned stakes in excess of $122,000.

His latest win was at Melton last Saturday in the hands of former Southland reinsman Tristan Larsen who works for Lilley. Twenty three year old Larsen has driven Johns Boy in all of his Australian wins and has now driven 100 winners across New Zealand and Australia.

With two more New Zealand records broken last weekend at Ashburton, the track continues to be the fastest short distance circuit in New Zealand.

The primary sprint distance these days at Ashburton is 1700 metres and in the mobile pacing gait the track is the home of seven of the eight records across all age groups.

In the trotting gait over 1700 metres from the mobile, the circuit is responsible for eight of the ten age group records.

Crunchy Bar (Captain Crunch) was an impressive qualifier for Sefton trainer Brent Borcoskie at Rangiora during the week.

The three year old gelding had a one and a half length margin on the second horse and ran the 2600 metre stand in 3-23.9 eight seconds under the qualifying time.

He’s the second foal out of the eight win Changeover mare Change Is Good who’s a half-sister to Downbytheseaside mare Hi Hopes, the winner of ten races for Tom Bagrie.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink