Dr Hook a last-start third to I Can Doosit and Springbank Richard in the Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park, won a 1950m (ffa, mobile) at Addington in February and he won over a mile in 1.56.2 at Ashburton in October. He was runner-up to Vulcan in the Dominion Handicap in November and won over 2600m from a 30m handicap at Addington in September.
Stephen McNally is the new driver for Dr Hook. Anthony Butt, who took over from the injured Jim Curtin, is required for Thanesan, an impressive winner at Addington last Saturday.
Trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne, who won five races, including the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington last Saturday, have the winners of those races in line for further success tonight. The Sires' Stakes winner, O Baby, is in the New Zealand Oaks with Natalie Rasmussen again the driver.
Minnie Moose, Best Deal Yet, Djamakembolt and Paddy Brown were the other winners.
Best Deal Yet clashes with Paddy Brown in race 7. The 3yr-old Best Deal Yet has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks.
Minnie Moose has stablemates Southwind Arden and Arden Tetrick as rivals in race 6.
• Bonechip qualified for the 2yr-old trotters section of the Harness Jewels with his win against his own age group at Cambridge last night.
The son of Monkey Bones and Lyn Chiola was a $10,000 purchase by co-trainer Brent Mangos on the third day of the premier yearling sale in Christchurch last year. Bonechip who was placed in his other two starts, is trained by Mangos and Hayden Cullen.
Bonechip is from the first crop of Monkey Bones, who won the International Stallion Stakes as a 2yr-old and took a record of 1.56.6 at 3 in the United States. Bonechip is the third foal of Lyn Chiola (by Chiola Cola), who qualified as a 2yr-old. She has also left St Petersburg, a winner at Rangiora in August.
• Allan Beck, the Winton trainer, has been unsuccessful in his appeal against a $10,000 fine in regard to administering a prohibited substance to a horse.
Beck was fined $10,000 and ordered to pay $500 costs by the Judicial Control Authority after he admitted administering the prohibited substance Aminorex to the horse Call Of Duty, who tested positive after finishing second at the Invercargill meeting on September 20.
Bruce Squire QC and Tim Gresson, who heard the appeal for the JCA found that the fine imposed was well within the range properly open to the judicial committee and dismissed the appeal.
The appeal tribunal has called for submissions from all parties concerned regarding costs.
• Hands Christian, the well-performed 4yr-old this season, has been sidelined with a hole in a tendon. He will undergo surgery, ruling him out of the Harness Jewels and NZ Cup.
His seven wins this season include the Easter Cup and Futurity Stakes at Cambridge.
• Results from the trials at Gore on Wednesday:
Weather overcast; track, good.
Two-yr-old pacers, mobile, 1700m: Marshal Dale B Shirley 1; Spirit of Art 2; El Ferrari 3. Five started. 2 1/2L; nk. Time, 2.11.6. Trainer, W Keeler.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2200m: Dendera R Swain 1; Ali Foyle 2. two started. Nk. Time, 2.52.8 (both qualified). Trainers, C Baynes and R Swain.
0w trotters, 2200m: Anothersuperstar N Williamson 1; So King 2; Jono 3. Three started. 1L; 30 1/2L. Time, 2.59.3. Trainer, A Shaw.
0w pacers, 2200m: Melody VC T Barron 1; Caesgold 2; Kezza's Lad 3. Four started. 3 1/2L; 3L. Time, 2.59.5. Trainers, C Baynes and R Swain.
0w pacers, mobile, 2200m: Lamar Fike A Hunter 1; Tuapeka Maddy 2; Quadrupedante 3. Four started. Nk; 2 1/4L.
Time,2.54.3. Trainer, A Hunter.
