Month: January 2020

Stars still stranded

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton A WEEK of frustration has ended in heartbreak for the connections of star pacers My Field Marshal and Alta Orlando.   The NSW-trained pair travelled to Melbourne and were supposed to be a flight from there to Perth last Monday night.   Fast-forward four days, including a string of other cancelled flights, and are still stranded at Shepparton.   There last chance to get to Perth for tonight’s Group 1 Fremantle Cup was a scheduled midnight flight last night, but that was also cancelled.   It’s robbed…

The Shark – Best at Nelson on Friday

NZHarnessNews

The Shark heads to sunny Nelson for the first of two-days of racing from Richmond Park and the Nelson Harness Racing Club on the summer circuit. For more punting information head to The Punters Lounge Race 1 6 Melody’s Mischief: Big run on debut and hit the line with real purpose. Should step up in this field and deliver the goods based on that effort. 5 Vesnina: Smart type on debut here and good workout and trial form under the belt too. Right in the mix with any luck. 1 Live…

Northern Briefs

NZHarnessNews

By Garrick Knight   No issues with Belle Of Montana Star mare Belle Of Montana has been cleared of any injury or niggles after her uncharacteristic gallop at Alexandra Park on New Years’ Eve. She paced roughly and broke heading in to the first bend and was later terminally checked on the final bend when back in the field and racing roughly again. Trainer Barry Purdon says that after a worrying period, he’s satisfied there is nothing wrong. “There were a couple of sleepless nights but everything is really good…

Piaggio poised to seal a Karaka Million start

Editor BOAY

Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) aspirant Piaggio (outside). Photo: Race Images Otaki trainer Johno Benner has an enviable record in the Karaka Million but he’s putting no pressure on himself with his 2020 candidate Piaggio. Benner and his partner Hollie Wynyard had Piaggio entered for both the NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1200m) at Ellerslie on Sunday and the William The Protector Premier (1200m) at Trentham on Saturday but have opted for the latter assignment this weekend. Piaggio, a son of Benner’s 2014 Karaka Million winner Vespa, sits just outside the…

Final hit-out for Campbell trio

Editor BOAY

Cambridge trainer Andrew Campbell will line-up three Karaka Million aspirants at Ellerslie on Sunday ahead of their rich targets at the Auckland track on January 25. Campbell is looking forward to the resumption of Trident who won on debut over 880m at Ellerslie in October, but admits the two-year-old gelding will take plenty of improvement from the run. “It was a great run on debut, he gave them three lengths at the start and even though he ran second – he should have won it outright – we won it…

Change of direction pays off for Boa

Editor BOAY

Malcolm Boa has been in the horse racing industry for years and with the addition of some gavelhouse.com buys, he’s excited about the future and a change in direction at his Rangiora-based property. “I have bred and trained Standardbreds for years and have trained about 30 odd winners,” he explained. “I decided to give breeding thoroughbreds a go and the internet is great.” “You can find everything on there and when I found Jungle Pago on gavelhouse.com, I really liked the family she was from.” A winning daughter of Darci…

Unbeaten filly on song for Karaka Million

Editor BOAY

Play That Song is on track for a tilt at the Karaka Million. Photo: Trish Dunell Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing) extended her unbeaten record to three when victorious in the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day and trainer and part-owner Nigel Tiley is hoping she can continue her winning ways later this month. Tiley purchased thedaughter of Showcasing out of Windsor Park Stud’s 2019 New Zealand BloodstockBook 2 Yearling Sale draft for $40,000 and he said he was impressed with herfrom the beginning. “I just…

Mascarpone ready to ice Levin Classic field

Editor BOAY

Gr.1 Woodridge Homes Levin Classic (1600m) contender Mascarpone. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Graeme Rogerson is excited to find out whether raw ability can snareGroup One honours for exciting three-year-old Mascarpone (NZ) (ShootingTo Win) in Saturday’s Woodridge Homes Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham. The Shooting To Win gelding is far from the finished product but he hasearned his shot at elite-level spoils after a treble of wins. The most recent of those was at Awapuni last month when he reared andmissed the start by three lengths but was…

Guillada freshened ahead of Anniversary

Editor BOAY

Guillada (outside) will contest the Gr.3 Bluestar Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Photo: Race Images Guillada (NZ) (Guillotine) will be looking to secure her first stakes victory at Trentham on Saturday when she contests the Gr.3 Bluestar Anniversary Handicap (1600m). The daughter of Guillotine attained that all-important black-type last start when running second to The Real Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) last month, cementing her future broodmare career. “The second in the Cal Isuzu is very important for her,” trainer Bryce Newman said.…