SPEEDING SPUR SERVES NOTICE TO ALL

Speeding Spur has announced that he is the ‘real deal’, following his Great Southern Star success at Melton against the trotting elite. The son of Pegasus Spur showed all his true qualities to win the $300,000 Group One feature. Following a second placing in his heat, in track record time, he showed dazzling speed in the final to crush his rivals, he has now bankrolled over $500,000 in stakes. The ‘baby’ of the race was driven a treat by Josh Dickie and the methodical preparation of trainer John Dickie was on display for all to see. Congratulations to all and a big shout to Andy and Kate Gath for hosting the horse.   For World champion sire Bettor’s Delight, his progeny had a night out on Great Northern Derby evening at Auckland, where he sired the winners of the key feature races. Lazarus added to his burgeoning record when he won the Great Northern Derby by four lengths, he now has over $750,000 on his card. Spanish Armada was the winner of the 2yo fillies Young Guns final after sitting in the breeze and dashing More The Bettor won the 2yo division for the colts and geldings of the Young Gun series.   Champion pacer Beautide, broke Smolda’s track record at Menangle for 2300 metres where he returned a mile rate of 1.53.5 and Mossdale Conner was a winner of the $40,000 Northern Southland Cup at Invercargill.   American Ideal’s sassy daughter Luisanabelle Midfrew was a very impressive winner of her Nevele R 3yo fillies heat at Addington in 1.57, Idealindiamonds took the honours in the Waimate Cup, blasting home in 27.4 and Brydon Ideal in the hands of Maurice McKendry won at Auckland.  

ALL STARS TEAM CONTINUE RECORD BREAKING RUN

The All Stars juggernaut rolled into Auckland for Oaks night and left with the major spoils on the programme with world champion stallion Bettor’s Delight progeny leading the way. The Great Northern Oaks was won by high class filly Piccadilly Princess, she paced a New Zealand record for the 2700 metre journey, returning a mile rate of 1.57.9.   Another record was established on the same card when More The Bettor paced a New Zealand record of 1.53.6 for the 1700 metre journey for 2yo’s, he sliced more than two seconds off the previous record. Bettor’s Delight continues to shape harness racing like no other stallion in history and the All Stars team are currently doing the same.   Great week for American Ideal with plenty of winners on both sides of the ditch. At Cranbourne, handy 3yo Soho Tribeca was a winner of the Group 3 Caduceus Club Cup, Ideal Success won the Group 3 Ouyen Cup, he scorched his last half in 55.8, Authorised and That’s Rite gave American Ideal a double at Gloucester Park, Mogul won on debut at Westport and Shard’s Halo was a winner at Gore.   Pegasus Spur’s ace son Speeding Spur rounded out his Great Southern Star preparation with victory at Auckland and he is ready for the $300,000 race night at Melton. Scorching Along was a 2.00.9 victor at Bendigo for Pegasus Spur also rounding out a big week for the Woodlands Stud stallions.

HAVE FAITH IN ME TAKES MIRACLE MILE IN 1.47.5

Have Faith In Me confirmed his status as harness racing’s best pacer with an Australasian record of 1.47.5 to win the 2016 Miracle Mile at Menangle. The four year old son of champion stallion Bettor’s Delight took his earnings past $1.3 million with the victory and in doing so broke his ‘big sister’ Adore Me’s record. Congratulations to all concern, scarily there is much more to come.   On the same card star 3yo filly Our Dream About Me was a winner of the Group One NSW Oaks. Sitting in the chair she powered away to equal the world record for the 2400 metre trip, taking a 1.54.2 mile rate.   Bettor’s Delight added another group one to his card for the meet when trotter On Thunder Road won the trotters cup, the 6yo has been a revelation in the squaregaiting ranks.   My Hard Copy joined the millionaire’s club with his fourth placing in the Miracle Mile. A son of American Ideal, he became his father’s second millionaire in recent months ‘down under’. American Ideal’s progeny just keep winning with Idealindiamonds a classy winner at Addington, Ideal Success was a 1.54.4 winner at Horsham, Leah Mac crushed her rivals at Winton by six lengths and Milia’s Ideal was a winner at Newcastle.   Pegasus Spur had memorable Auckland meeting when he sired a treble, amongst the winners where C K Spur, Tuiz Luck and Bobby Breen. In Victoria he was seen to advantage with Kilmore winner Arctic Pegasus and Our Dainty Lady was an impressive winner at Shepparton.  HAVE FAITH IN ME TAKES MIRACLE MILE IN 1.47.5

WOODLANDS STALLIONS CAST BIG SHADOW OVER MIRACLE MILE

This year’s edition of the Miracle Mile at Menangle looks like a ‘race for the ages’ and the Woodlands Stud stallions represent half of the field. American Ideal will be represented by his top two Australian sons in millionaire Bling It On and multiple Grand Circuit Winner My Hard Copy. For champion stallion Bettor’s Delight his champion sons Beautide and new sensation Have Faith In Me will carry his moniker on February 28th. We wish all those associated with these pacers the best of luck on February 28th.   The winners kept coming for American Ideal with his classy daughter Start Dreaming pacing 1.51.9 to win at Menangle, Eric Clapton blasted around Newcastle in 1.52.8, American Tart remains undefeated following a 1.55.5 victory at Wyndham and Sally Fletcher was a winner at Penrith. For Bettor’s Delight his daughters had a big night at Menangle with debut 2yo Eliza Dushka, making a big impression by crushing her rivals in the Group 2 Pink Bonnet, Dodolicious travelled from Western Australia to impressively win her NSW Oaks heat and superstar filly Our Dream About Me was pushed to the limit to when her Oaks heat. She remains unbeaten after eleven career starts and in winning her heat she paced the fastest last half ever recorded at Menangle when she closed her half in a staggering 52.5 and last quarter in 25.5.   Other good winners for Bettor’s Delight included Bettor Promise who paced 1.53.2 to win at Albion Park and Bettor Spirits has now banked over $150,000 following his latest Auckland win.  

HAVE FAITH IN ME CRUSHES RIVALS IN CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Bettor’s Delight’s outstanding son Have Faith In Me served noticed to all, that he just maybe the best pacer in Australasia with his 1.48.8 victory in the Group One Chariots of Fire at Menangle. The 4yo has staggering high speed and all round game to suggest that the Miracle Mile against the big boys on February 28th, will certainly not be beyond him. He has now bank rolled over $870,000 from just 21 lifetime starts. One horse standing in his way will be Beautide, who was an effortless winner of the Group One Coca Cola sprint in 1.50.7. The son of Bettor’s Delight now has $2.1 million on his card and this was career win number 42!   Plenty of other winners for the champion stallion, with Dodolicious leading in a Bettor’s trifecta on the $50,000 Dainty’s Daughter classic at Gloucester Park, Spanish Armada was an impressive debut winner at Auckland and Soho Tokyo has now earned over $150,000 in stakes following her victory at Ballarat.   American Ideal had no fewer than 17 winners on both sides of the ditch. The highlight was Luisanabelle Midfrew victory in the $150,000PGG Wrightson 3yo fillies final at Addington. Superbly driven Matthew Williamson and trained to the minute by Nigel McGrath, the win took her lifetime earnings over $126,000. Other good winners included Ideal Tyson in 1.54.7 at Menangle, Perfect Storm at Auckland, Pocket Of Jewels at Timaru and Issac won at Albion Park in 1.55.4.   For Pegasus Spur, Desert Flyer kept the French punting public happy with victory at Melton and classy mare Paramount Dream was a winner at Auckland for John and Josh Dickie.  

BETTOR’S DELIGHT IN DEMAND AS 2016 YEARLING SALES KICK OFF

Leviathan stallion Bettor’s Delight was once again keenly sought after as the 2016 yearling’s sales commenced in Melbourne. The first of a number of sales, was well attended and the market was certainly on the up.   Outstanding yearling preparer Annie Dalton was at the top of her game preparing two sons of Bettor’s Delight, for Ross Gange and the results spoke for themselves. Lot 112 was sold for $140,000 and Lot 164 was sold for $106,000. Another colt consigned by Pinaroo Park by Bettor’s Delight sold for $91,000.   Great to see a number of American Ideal’s making their way through the sale ring in Australia. He had two quality colts both make $36,000.   Away from the sale ring the winners kept coming for Bettor’s Delight with Our Dream About Me remaining undefeated after 10 starts, following a 1.54.4 victory at Menangle, Bettor Draw paced 1.52.8 on the same cardand Alta Las Vegas won at Auckland. American Ideal’s daughter Start Dreaming put her hand up to be part of the Ladyship mile when she sat in the chair at Menangle in 1.51.7, Baby She Rocks won the $25,000 3yo fillies sales classic at Gloucester Park, Soho Tribeca was a 1.56.1 winner at Geelong and Perfectly Ideal won at Winton. For Pegasus Spur, his son Pegasus Dream scored career win number seven with victory at Waikouaiti. 

VICTORIAN DERBY WIN BY LAZARUS - ONE FOR THE AGES

Outstanding 3yo Lazarus produced one of the great Victorian Derby victories in the top races rich history when he contested the event at Melton. Afforded no favours at any stage of the race, the son of champion stallion Bettor’s Delight was wide early and sat in the chair through a punishing final half to score an outstanding victory. He paced his final half in 54.7 and closing quarter in 26.4. Put in perspective, he paced 0.7 seconds quicker for his last half than the winner of the Victoria Cup and sat in the death in doing so. He has clearly stamped himself as the best 3yo ‘down under’. For Bettor’s Delight other good winners included Ohoka Punter who won the Pure Steel at Melton, which is a key lead up race to the Hunter Cup, Have Faith In Me sat parked to win the Group 2 Paleface Adios at Menangle and he is now nominal favourite for the Chariots of Fire and champion pacer Beautide is headed towards the Miracle Mile following an effortless victory at Menangle. American Ideal’s top son Bling It On, became his first millionaire ‘down under’ when he ran a gutsy race in the Victorian Cup. He has been at all the races along the way and has always bought his ‘A Game’. American Ideal’s son Star Of Dionysis remains undefeated in Australia, following his victory in the Central Victorian Pacing Championships. The Andy Gath trained pacer defied all challengers to the $20,000 race. American Tart was an impressive Invercargill winner and looks headed for bigger things, she paced home in 55.5. Pegasus Spur enjoyed a good week with winners in Southland Reflector, Sarah Lindenny and Monty Python who all won in the shaky isles. With February here, the annual round of yearling sales commences in Melbourne on February 7th, we wish all vendors the best of luck.  

LAZARUS LOOK SHARP IN VICTORIAN DERBY HEAT

Outstanding 3yo pacer Lazarus, bought his ‘A’ game across the ditch to easily win his heat of the Victorian Derby at Ballarat. The son of champion stallion Bettor’s Delight will be nominal favourite for the blue riband classic to be held at Melton on Victoria Cup night. Lazarus sat in the chair to win his heat and did so in a 1.56.5 mile rate. This was win number 11 in a career of just 13 starts and he has bankrolled over $500,000 in stakes. Lazarus’s stablemate Have Faith In Me crossed the ditch also but was in Sydney to prepare for the Chariots of Fire, he too was an effortless winner in 1.52 and change against his older rivals, he was one of three winners sired by Bettor’s Delight on the same card, the others to greet the judge where Ivegottalife and Express Stride. American Ideal had a very good week on both sides of the Tasman, with a number of winners. American Spirit remains undefeated following a tough win at Wyndham, American Tart was a very impressive winner on debut at Marlborough in the hands of John Dunn, she scooted home in 56.4. In the Sunshine state he sired winners in American Legend at Albion Park and Margins at Redcliffe. Out west, the Woodlands Stud bred That’s Rite was an easy winner at Bunbury and American Angel scored at Albany and at Rotorua he sired a double when Wave Song and Hartofdixie both won on the grass. For resident trotting stallion Pegasus Spur, Fiftyshadesofbrown was a winner at Warrugal.