Hamish Hunter, the Ryal Bush horseman, was undergoing surgery last night for a broken ankle sustained in a race fall at Invercargill yesterday.
He was admitted to Invercargill Hospital after he was tipped from the sulky of Mellow Yellow who struck a knee and fell after 300m.
Mellow Yellow was stood down from racing for 28 days and she is required to give two satisfactory trials.
Twelve months ago, Hunter was sidelined for several months after breaking his wrist and dislocating his shoulder in a race fall at Waikouaiti.
Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson produced his second 2yr-old trotting winner this season when Duke Of The Moment was successful at Invercargill yesterday.
Duke Of The Moment was a $20,000 purchase at the premier yearling sale 12 months ago by Steve Thompson, of Dunedin, who races him with Brian Wood and Grant Dickey, both of Christchurch.
Duke Of The Moment (by Monarchy) is the fifth winner left by his dam, Juverna. She has also left Bankers Moment (five wins) and Kevies Moment (four).
Tom Creagh is the other 2yr-old trotting winner this season for the Williamson stable.
Waltzing With Cullen, the 2yr-old pacer who won his first start yesterday, was passed in for $22,000 when offered by Cullen Breeding Ltd at the premier sale. Trainer Kirk Larsen was the underbidder and the colt was subsequently bought by Jean Feiss, of Melbourne. The Christian Cullen colt was among four lots she bought at the sale.
• Pocaro, who is engaged at Alexandra Park on Friday night, is back with trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne. The winner of 11 races, Pocaro has failed to fire in three starts this season for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
• The apparent electrocution of two horses in a parade ring in England from an old underground cable, recalls the death of the the well performed 3yr-old trotter trotter Black Miller at West Melton in May, 1972.
Black Miller died when being exercised on a merry-go-round type walking machine. His trainer, Jack Litten, attributed the death to an electric current travelling to the machine through the ground from a wire brought down in high winds.
Black Miller had won the NZ Trotting Stakes for 3yr-olds in March that year.
His stablemate, Hocquard, had been the first to use the exercise machine but became unsettled and he was taken off it. Hocquard won the last five of his seven starts as a 3yr-old that season.
• Live Lea was cleared to start in the Motukarara Cup on Friday after a trial win at Addington yesterday.
Live Lea had been required to give a satisfactory trial after he shifted in at the start of the Waikouaiti Cup on Sunday and locked wheels with Sonnetsson. The drivers of both horses were unseated.
• Results of trials yesterday.-.
Qualifying test, trotters, 2600m: Red Boyz P Wakelin 1; Pricilla P 2; Desert Flight 3. Five started. 9L, 6L. Time, 3.36.8 (first horse qualified). Trainers: P Wakelin and S Noble.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2600m: Me Old Mate C D Thornley 1; Tom Bola 2;l Anitas Cullen 3. Four started. 2L, 1L. Time, 3.25.4 ( first three qualified). Trainer: N Hamilton.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2000m: Latte Lass M Shinn 1; Ikin 2; Mourinho 3. Six started. 1L, hd. Time, 2.35.5 (four qualified). Trainer: M Shinn.
Two-year-old pacers, c and g, mobile, 2000m (first heat): Hawthornden A Butt 1; Franco Hemmingway 2; The Perfect Storm 3. Five started. 1L, 3L. Time: 2.33.6. Trainer: T Butt.
Second heat: Chancellor Cullen A Butt 1; Jivin Cullen 2; Cullens Spirit 3. Five started. L, 2L. Time: 2.35.6. Trainer: K Barron.
Two-year-old pacers, f , mobile, 2000m (first heat): Holme Fire S Stewart 1; The Secret 2; Rose Fire 3. Five started. nk, hd. Time: 2.34.3. Trainer: M Jones.
Second heat: Glenferrie Magic R Todd 1; Strata Star 2; Countess Vale 3. Five started. 2L, L. Time: 2.31.8. Trainer: M Jones.
Two-year-old trotters, mobile, 2000m: Topnotch Jewel R May 1; Beau Brummell 2; Sol Invictus 3. Five started. 1L, 4L. Time: 2.37.3. Trainer: J Gameson.
0w pacers, mobile, 1950m (first heat): Gee That's Courage S Stewart 1; Parfait Bromac 2; Peraki King 3. Six started. L, 1L. Time: 2.25.7. Trainer: M Jones.
Second heat: Gotta Break C McDwell 1; Pembrook's Star 2; Berry Bromac 3. Six started. nk, L. Time: 2.33.9. Trainer: K Barron.
Third heat: Bagdarin C De Filippi 1; Lavros Flash 2; Tyler Bromac 3. Six started. 1L, 2L. Time: 2.29.4. Trainer: G Crabbe.
1w+ pacers, mobile, 1950m: Lavros Invader C D Thornley 1; Lively GNP 2; Zip It 3. Seven started. L, nk. Time: 2.32.1. Trainer: R Kennedy.
0w trotters, 2600m: Tip Your Hat Loui D Dunn 1; Bolton Earl 2; Thunder Maker 3. Eight started. 5L, 1L. Time: 3.32.8. Trainer: M Smolenski.
0w pacers, 2600m: Ataahua Tiki S McNally 1; Mister Dann 2; Ladidah 3. Seven started. Nse, 1L. Time: 3.30.4. Trainer: S McNally.
1w+ trotters, 2600m: Lexie Highlander 20 J Dunn 1; Clover Don 20 2; Little Tomtom 3. Six started. 1L, 2L Time: 3.29.2. Trainer: K Fairbairn.
1w+ pacers, 2600m: Live Lea C De Filippi 1; Soak It Up 2; Deadly Affair 3. Five started. 1L, L. Time: 3.24.1. Trainer: G McStay.
