Funding cut possible for three codes?

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has been made aware of reports that funding is facing a cut for next season.

There was been discussion and speculation yesterday that the TAB will reduce funds for the 2022-23 season for all three codes, HRNZ chief executive Gary Woodham said in a statement yesterday.

HRNZ is aware of some of the details that have been outlined and will be working over the weekend and the early part of next week to work out exactly what the proposals are and what implications they have for the sport.

Until then no further comment will be made, Woodham said.

● Meanwhile champion trotter and current horse of the year Sundees Son is out of tomorrow’s big grand prix meeting at Addington and the entire summer of racing. The last-start Dominion winner, who made it a three-peat in the race last month, has knocked a leg in a paddock and been sent for a spell.

That means he misses the $100,000 NZ Trotting Free-For-All tomorrow, the open class trotting highlight of the new eight Group I races on the 10-race programme.

It means Muscle Mountain, who nearly toppled Sundees Son in the Dominion, will start a hot favourite in the Free-For-All.

‘‘It is nothing serious but with missing this Sunday we thought it was a good chance to give him a break,’’ said driver John Dunn.

‘‘So he can have the summer off and we will bring him back up for the autumn where he could have three or four big races,’’ said Dunn.

Unbeaten Millwood Nike is currently rated a $1.35 favourite to win the $100,000 Ace of Diamonds ahead of the Team Telfer-trained trio of Kahlua Flybye ($8.50), Aardiebytheeseaside ($11) and Sweet Diamonds ($11). A two-year old Millwood Nike is unbeaten from seven starts.