Tintin in America won the $200,000 Sires' Stakes Final for pacers in New Zealand record time for a 2yr-old at Addington last night.
Tintin In America ran the 1950m (mobile) in 2.20.5 (1.55.9 mile rate), 0.8sec inside the record set by Likmesiah in the 2003 Sires' Stakes Final.
Tintin In America gave reinsman David Butcher his third win in the race.
Butcher drove the Gary Hackett-trained Mr Metallica to win in 1999 and he was successful with Ambro The Thug in 2005.
The latter was trained by Geoff Small, who prepares Tintin In America.
The McArdle-Zenterfold colt is raced by the ATC Trot 2008 syndicate.
The ATC (Auckland Trotting Club) 2000 syndicate won the 2000 race with Matai Mackenzie.
Tintin In America was a $42,500 purchase at the Australiasian Classic sale. He is from the first NZ crop of McArdle, who earned $USA2,455,000 in stakes and took a record of 1.49.
McArdle (by Falcon Seelster) is in service at Nevele R Stud, Prebbleton.
Zenterfold won four races including a NZ Sires' Stakes Silver at Cambridge as a 3yr-old in 2004 when trained by Small. She won over a mile in 1.56.6 at Cambridge.
Tintin In America is the first foal of the In The Pocket mare.
• Kiwi Ingenuity highlighted a grand season for Leithfield Beach horseman Robbie Holmes with success in the $150,000 group one New Zealand Oaks last night.
Holmes (41), is enjoying his best season as a trainer with 39 wins since he took out a licence in 1996-97.
Kiwi Ingenuity, raced by husband and wife owner-breeders Hamish Scott and Kim Lawson, won the Southland Oaks in record time last month..
• Nearea Franco ran a New Zealand record for 1950m (mobile) of 2.20 (1.55.5 mile rate) when she recorded her sixth win in eight starts last night.
She bettered the mark of 2.20.3 set by Changeover as a 3yr-old in the 2006 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington, the only track where the distance is run.
Pompallier returned to winning form after an absence of 14 months at Alexandra Park last night.
The 10yr-old had not been successful since the NZ Trotting Championship at Addington.
The Richard Brosnan-trained trotter has won 20 races.
Schultz will miss his race at Oamaru tomorrow after being sold overseas, trainer Mark Purdon said. The 3yr-old won three races from eight starts.
• Graeme Sanders, the Te Awamutu trainer, will prepare Seachange for her English campaign, NZPA reports.
Sanders will take over from Ralph Manning, who is committed to his New Zealand stable at Cambridge.
Sanders had already planned to holiday in England in June but it will now be a working holiday.
Sanders will travel to England at the end of the month.
Seachange begins her English campaign at Royal Ascot on June 21.
The mare is in the care of strapper Jayne Ivil and her partner, Te Awamutu jockey Sean Collins.
Sanders (58), who trains his New Zealand team in partnership with a son, Mark, has won the Auckland Cup with Prize Lady and the Easter Handicap and City Of Auckland Cup with Pasta Post this season.
• The Anderton family has a winning association with the Otago Steeplechase over 71 years following the win of Personal Success on Thursday.
Personal Success is trained by Brian Anderton and his son, Shane.
Brian trained Bijoumai to win the race in 1988.
He was in partnership with Shane when he won with Boroma (1996-97) and Melomai (2001).
Bijoumai, Boroma and Melomai were ridden by Shane.
Brian won the race as an 18-year-old on The Tongs in 1956.
He won on Delarmo three years later.
Both horses were trained by his father, Hector, who also won the race as a trainer with Desert Trek (1952-53).
Hector rode Cartoon to win the 1927 Otago Steeplechase.
