Year: 2019

By Garrick Knight Natalie Rasmussen cemented her place in the annals of harness racing history with a record-equaling Inter Dominion triumph at Alexandra Park on Saturday night. The expat Queenslander equaled the record for most driving wins when reining Ultimate Sniper to a typically courageous win in the $500,000 showpiece event. It’s unlikely any horse will ever supersede her former champion pacer, and four-time Inter Dominion winner, Blacks A Fake, but Ultimate Sniper, who she co-trains in Christchurch with Mark Purdon, will hold a special place in her heart. “It’s…

By Jonny Turner   Co-owner Meg Butterworth perfectly summed up the feelings of those watching Copy That’s win in the Alabar 3yr-old Classic at Alexandra Park on Saturday night when she said she “nearly died three times” during the heart-stopping event. The Ray Green trained pacer set the hearts fluttering among punters who backed him in to $2.10 win odds in the group 2 feature when galloping at the 1800m before again setting pulses racing in a nail-biting finish with runner-up One Change. His trainer, owner and backers admitted Copy…

  By Jonny Turner   If the team from Kirstin Barclay and Paul Ellis’ stable go as well on the track at Winton on Sunday as U May Cullect has been going off the track, they will be in for a big day. The training partners will line up five strong chances on the Winton Harness Racing Club’s innovative programme, including former All Stars pacer Freddiesam. The former All Stars 3yr-old has been sent south in the hope he will find suitable races and break his maiden after being competitive…

By Garrick Knight Belle Of Montana confirmed her billing as New Zealand’s top race mare with an effortless win in the $100,000 Group 1 Queen of Hearts on Saturday night. Driver Zachary Butcher had a relatively easy task once he found the front early on in the race, his mare’s clear class edge meaning opposing drivers were simply unwilling to challenge him. As a result, the race was run in a relatively sedate 2.40.7, but punishing finals splits of 55.2 and 26.5 gave her the upper hand. Trainer Barry Purdon…

By Jonny Turner   Champion trainer-driver Mark Purdon admitted Winterfell gave him one of his most nerve-wracking big race drives when winning the Interdominion Trotting Final on Saturday night.   The 5yr-old raced like he was desperate to add to Purdon’s already illustrious record in Australasia’s greatest test of trotting stamina when going roughly around the Alexandra Park bends and threatening to gallop before producing seamless strides to win.   Winterfell was so dicey in his trotting action Purdon had to let third place-getter Massive Metro head his horse before the…

By Michael Guerin The Inter Dominion became the Inter Domination as New Zealand’s greatest ever harness stable put on a show at Alexandra Park last night. The All Stars, the aptly-named training operation of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, won both the $500,000 Inter Dominion Pacing Final with hot favourite Ultimate Sniper and the $150,000 Trotting Final with Winterfell as they unleashed the full force of their stable on harness racing’s biggest stage. Not only did they take home the two Holy Grails but won five of the support races,…

The Shark heads out to the punting graveyard of Motukarara in search of winners at the annual Akaroa Trotting Club meeting on the big grass track.   For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge                                                                                                                                 Race 1 8 Romanite: Has performed well here in the past in amateur races and bring solid from down from the North Island. Hard to ignore. 7 Bush Man: Very brave last time out when finishing second. In genuine nick and doesn’t mind the grass track so has to be considered a live chance.…

The Shark heads down to Southland, to Winton for what is the start of a big few weeks of action from the lower South Island, in search of winners.   For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge     Race 1 6 Stravos The Terror: Form looks good, especially considering a heap of it is Canterbury form. Should be able to dominate this field today. 3 Pick Six Telf: Much more like it last time with a fighting third. Should pick a win up at some point in the next…