It may have only been a maiden race at Te Aroha on Sunday, but Justastate earned her photo spot amongst Rogan Norvall’s gallery of the memorable feature winners he rode during his career in the saddle. The Falkirk five-year-old credited Norvall with his first training success after he officially went into partnership with Matamata trainer Graham Richardson a day earlier, on the opening day of the new season. “I wasn’t at the races, but I watched her race and when I saw Craig (Grylls, jockey) winding her up down the…
Month: August 2020
Season Review: Jonny Turner
By Jonny Turner In my time in harness racing there has simply never been a season like the just completed 2019-20 edition. And quite frankly, I hope there will never be another one like it. And though I have clearly started this look back at the past 12 months from a negative viewpoint, I do not intend to continue that way. Because no matter the challenges facing harness racing in New Zealand, there is always the good, the excitement, the passion, the great people and of course, the fast horses.…
NZ Cup not the aim for Sniper
By Michael Guerin Inter Dominion hero Ultimate Sniper has started the long road back to the track but don’t expect him to turn up in our greatest race. Because champion trainer Mark Purdon says while it is not impossible, the New Zealand Cup isn’t the aim for the Horse of the Year in waiting. Ultimate Sniper had his first day back jogging at the All Stars yesterday, having been sidelined by a leg injury since clean-sweeping the Inter Dominions at Auckland in December. That feels like an age ago and…
Lazarus ready to make amends
By Jonny Turner Lazarus has left behind rave reviews about his first crop of foals in North America after touching down in Australia last week. After landing in Sydney, the superstar New Zealand bred entered quarantine as he prepares for his second season at stud in Australasia. The two-time New Zealand Cup winner served 136 mares in his first stud season in North America and the resulting progeny have been given a big tick of approval over the past few months. “The feedback has been great,” part-owner John Curtin said.…
Industry News: August 4
1. Purdon-Rasmussen team make up entire field In what’s an unusual, and possibly even unique situation, all the runners in one race at Addington on Friday night will come from the same stable. The All Stars have entered eight runners in race 3 (mobile pace $12,500, 3yo up to and including R60, 1980m), including last start winners Darling Me, Bettor Twist and It’s All About Faith. It’s believed to be a first though if anyone can remember this happening before please contact us at marketingdept@hrnz.co.nz 2. Milestones loom Wins…
Season review: Michael Guerin
By Michael Guerin Usually it is a difficult task working out my favourite moment of any given harness racing season. A year can be a long time in harness racing, particularly this year. With the mid-season lock down monumental occasions like Cup week and Auckland Inter Dominions now seem a life time ago. Both were touched with greatness, either for the occasion and emotion of Blair Orange winning the Cup with Cruz Bromac or thesheer bloody-mindedness of Ultimate Sniper’s Inter Dominion Pacing Final. Before and after there were horses I…
Coursing key to Baby Talk’s bounce
When lightly-raced youngster Baby Talk suffered an early career hiccup, trainer John Paraskevas and son Andrew decided to follow a proven path that worked wonders with her sire, American Monster. After winning her first three starts at Sale (2) and Ballarat, Baby Talk’s flying start came to an abrupt halt when finishing down the track at Warrnambool. But she bounced back immediately last Sunday at her Healesville debut, setting the pace in the heats of the Super Sprint (1-4 wins) series over 300m, with a family affinity for coursing key…
Racing to continue
The Premier has confirmed that greyhound racing can continue at this time because of the very low-level risk it poses in spreading Covid19 in our workplace. This evaluation is based on data and is because of the strong protocols we have in place. It is also because of how you have all conducted yourselves within the workplace over the past few months; abiding by the rules and doing the right thing. The right thing is to also keep yourself and your family safe and well. If anyone in your circle…
Toni Street wins first workout
Named after the well-known media personality, Toni Street has made her first public appearance, and it was a winning one. The three-year-old is a half sister to the outstanding four-year-old Copy That, who won her ninth race at Alexandra Park on July 29. Just two days later (last Friday) Toni Street took part in her first workout at Pukekohe Raceway. Street agreed to the horse taking her name after the idea was first raised by Jeremy Young, who trains the horse at Pukekohe.
Star Galleria returns
By Michael Guerin The clock is ticking for Star Galleria when the open class pacers make their earliest northern return in decades at Alexandra Park this Thursday. The open class elite stars starting down the road to the New Zealand Cup in August was common 30 years ago but in recent years many haven’t been seen until late September and with the north’s struggling for consistent open class numbers the pre-Cup racing has been spasmodic at best. But lock down and the loss of autumn harness racing has everybody ready…