Southern snippets

Gore trainer Tony Stratford will be looking for Group One success when he lines up exciting pacer Captain Wolf (Captain Crunch) in the $200,000 Woodlands Sires’ Stakes Series Final at Addington on Cup Day.

In the thirty two years he’s held a trainers licence this is the richest race he’s had a starter in, but it’s not the first time he’s had a runner in a G1 feature.

Le Sol ran in the 2010 G1 New Zealand Welcome Stakes while Pulp Fiction took his place in the 2014 G1 New Zealand Sires’ Stakes at Addington.

The connections of Captain Wolf paid the late entry fee of $20,000 to enter the series and when he ran fifth in the last heat at Ashburton on Labour Day he qualified for the final.

“We took a punt to get him there and now we’re there. This horse is not without a chance,” Stratford said.

Im Stealthy’s (Downbytheseaside) win in the WA Derby on Friday night at Gloucester Park was the second time breeders Macca Lodge have bred a Group One winner.

Their first was Balcatherine (American Ideal) when she won the G1 Westral Mares Classic at the same venue in November 2020.

Both horses were trained by Gary Hall snr and driven by Gary Hall jnr.

Eastern Southland breeder Kenny Baynes is on a roll at the moment. In the space of three days he’s bred and owned three winners.

Bettor B Special (Bettor’s Delight) trained by Derek and Neita Balle won at Cambridge on Thursday and on Friday the Balles also geared up B Envious (Always B Miki) to win at Alexandra Park. And Neita’s partner Zev Meredith trained Muchacho (Always B Miki) for Baynes to win at the same venue.

B Envious will now head south for the $300,000 New Zealand Pacing Derby at Addington on November 20^th.

Kenny’s father Colin trained two past NZ Derby runners – Country Ways which ran third in 2001 and Roman Gladiator which finished tenth in 2004 when favourite.

Both B Envious and Better B Special were offered by Kenny and Jo Baynes at the 2024 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales, both were passed in for $40,000.

Quality trotting mare Empire City’s racing days are over and she’s off to stud to be served by In Range.

Trained throughout her career by Phil Williamson she won four of her six starts as a two year old and four of eleven at three.

At four and five she only managed one win in twenty two starts.

Her wins included the Listed Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Fillies Classique, the G2 Sires’ Stakes Two Year Olds Championship, the G1 Ace Of Hearts, G3 Northern Trotting Derby, the G2 NZ Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Championship, the G2 Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique and the G3 Southern Lights.

Owned by Peter and Janet Argus possibly Empire City’s greatest achievement was running second to champion trotting filly Keayang Zahara in the $200,000 New Zealand Trotting Oaks.

In Range, the Yabby Dam Farms based stallion is booked out in both New Zealand and Australia after recording stunning results in North America.

Southland trainer Nathan Williamson will be taking some quality fire power north as he gears up for Cup Week.

Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) gets the Williamson show on the road on Friday when she lines up in the $125,000 New Zealand Trotting Oaks. Then it’s Cup Day.

Possible starters on Cup Day are Tarragindi (Majestic Son) in a rating race, Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) in the Junior FFA and Indulge Me (Downbytheseaside) in the $200,000 Nevele R Fillies Final.

“Tarragindi will back up on Show Day. In the South Of The Waitaki I could nominate up to five. I’ve got Partytime (Bettor’s Delight), Rakmacknra (Captaintreacherous), Off The Canvas (Art Major), Secret Agent Man (Sweet Lou) and Cheers Up N Dance (Always B Miki),” Williamson said.

Meanwhile Secret Agent Man starts at Kaikoura tomorrow for Williamson in the $50,000 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales Aged Classic and Captains Mistress who was formally trained by Nathan and is now trained by Jason Grimson, will run in the Kaikoura Cup.

“It’ll be great to see her again. I haven’t seen her since we parted ways. She was such a special part of my life.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink