Racing: Irish Whisper sold to Canada

Irish Whisper will have his final New Zealand start on Friday. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Talented trotter Irish Whisper has been sold to North America by Oamaru owner Bev Williamson.

Irish Whisper is now under the care of Papakura trainer Tony Herlihy for a race at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The Sundon-Little Contessa gelding bred by Williamson, is booked on a flight from Auckland on Friday week.

He has been bought by Brenda Selwyn-Waxman and is destined for the stable of Isaac Waxman in Canada.

The Waxmans have enjoyed considerable success with New Zealand exports, including All Tiger and Georgetown.

Irish Whisper has been at Papakura for a month after Williamson's husband, Phil, took her north to prepare for the Harness Jewels.

Irish Whisper has won four of his seven starts. Three of his wins have been at Addington, where he rated 1:58.1 for 1950m (mobile). He qualified at Forbury Park 11 months ago.

Miss Moonlite lowered a 15-year track record in a heat of the Golden Girls series over a mile in 1:54.7 at Richmond Park, Nelson, yesterday.

The 4-year-old Christian Cullen-Dancingonmoonlight mare, trained by Andrew Stuart, bettered the mark of 1:56.2 set by My Only Vice, a 4-year-old gelding, in 1997. The previous record for a mare at Richmond Park was 1:57.3 by Glen's Sister in 2002.

Miss Moonlite was served by Bettors Delight this season but failed to conceive.

"We thought we would bring her back for the Golden Girls series but she has had a lot of trouble getting down on her heels.

"My farrier Jono Murfitt has worked on the problem for four or five months and if it wasn't for him she would be racing," Stuart said. "She will probably go back to Australia for the Breeders' Crown in August."

Miss Moonlite ran a bold race fresh up at Addington on May 31, then broke a hopple on the home turn on the first day of the Nelson meeting.

She won the Breeders' Crown Consolation for 3-year-old fillies at Melton last August.

Piper Heidsieck set a record of 3:47.2 (2:01.8 rate) for 3000m, when he led for most of the way in the Nelson Winter Cup. He bettered the record of 3:48.4 set by Love That Lavros in the 2007 Nelson Cup. Piper Heidsieck had also won on the first day of the meeting.