Venerable galloper Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk) is in search of a first stakes victory when he contests Thursday’s Listed Courtesy Ford Levin Stakes (1200m) on what promises to be a rain-affected Otaki track. The seven-year-old has had a lengthy campaign which has netted five victories from seven starts this term for Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry, who part-owns the son of Falkirk with her parents Tony and Judith and sister Samantha. The gelding rarely runs a bad race and Bambry would love nothing more than to see her hardy sprinter record his…
Month: November 2020
Life-long dream realised for Reid
She may have lived on the Central Coast of New South Wales for 40 years but Margaret Reid, the part-owner and breeder of the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) winner Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed), is still very much a Taranaki girl. So much so that the green and brown colours that Irish Flame races in feature a stylised logo of Mount Taranaki and the nearby Waiwhakaiho river. She shares those colours with her husband Bill and fellow breeder and part-owner, Inglewood farmer Gary Kemp. For good measure there were another couple…
Toughness the key to talented filly
Tough is a word that comes up several times in conversation with Otaki trainer Johno Benner when talking about his talented filly Key (Exceed and Excel). The Exceed And Excel three-year-old, a A$550,000 yearling purchase for owner Gary Harding last year, steps up to stakes company for the first time in Thursday’s Gr.3 Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki. “I can’t complain. She’s going great,” said Benner, who trains with his partner Hollie Wynyard. “We’ve had a fair bit of rain down here so we might be racing on…
Cullens keen to stamp their own mark
Hayden Cullen has spoken of the “surprise” he felt when it was first mentioned that he take over the All Stars stables business at Rolleston. Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen stunned many in the sport when they announced last week that they were intending to take extended leave from the sport, and that their stable foreman Hayden Cullen and his wife Amanda would take over the business from January 1. It will be re-branded “Cullen Racing Stables”. HRNZ Marketing caught up with Hayden and Amanda Cullen as they look ahead…
FAST10 Horse Racing is back
QHR, Quick Horse Racing is excited to again bring you Fast10 Horse Racing being held at Addington Raceway on the last Friday afternoon before Christmas, 18th December 2020. Fast10 Horse Racing debuted December 2019 as an exciting and innovative new concept to horse racing in NZ. “We were overwhelmed by how those involved loved and welcomed the new concept. There was a real buzz in the stabling area and everyone worked together to ensure the racing ran to time. It was a thrill to see the crowd enjoying the excitement…
News Briefs – November 25
Huge run makes it 100 for Young-Grant Producing what commentator Justin Evans called “a huge run”, Aveross Majesty gave Jessica Young-Grant her 100th driving success at Oamaru on Saturday. Paying $11.30 and $4 the Denis O’Connell-trained trotter was worse than midfield turning for home only to unleash down the very outside to win by more than two lengths. It was the horse’s first win in eight starts and Young-Grant’s 100th since taking up race driving in 2009. Her achievement was overshadowed just four races later when Peter Ferguson won his…
Stars set to clash
By Michael Guerin Harness fans are in for an early present this Christmas Eve. Because that is when Cambridge could be the surprise venue for the first clash of our two most exciting trotters. Trainer Tony Herlihy has confirmed that will be the next start for his excitement machine Bolt For Brilliance, who is back in work after a two week break. The four-year-old was sensational downing southern stars Cracker Hill and Ultimate Stride in the delayed Sales Series and Sires’ Stakes at Alexandra Park in October, breaking 55 seconds…
Big Fish, Little Fish – Invercargill Nov 25
Big Fish Little Fish returns minus the Little Fish Michael Guerin for today’s preview of the Invercargill meeting. See Craig Thompson’s three big tips for the meeting that starts at 2.29 this afternoon.
Selections Invercargill | November 25
Jason Broad and Justin Evans share their selections for Invercargill. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race JASON BROADSouthern Harness JUSTIN EVANSCommentator Race 12.29pm 8 Adhara7 Who’s My Mother4 Northview Peg9 Jaffie J 1 Swedish Starlet6 Money Honey8 Adhara9 Jaffie J Race 23.05pm 4 Pete’s Dash2 Changearound11 Matrika14 Alexy 8 I wanadancewitsumbody1 Swift Robyn13 The Night Watchman5 Calico Hill Race 33.40pm 8 Kiwitrix1 Harry H2 Amabede4 Helluva Way 8 Kiwitrix1 Harry H12 Miss Bamboocha13 Aveross Majesty Race 44.17pm 10 Port Au Prince11 Lynryd Skynryd9 Stars N Bars4 Onedin…
Elsa to take Meadows lead
Shane Drummond is hoping perennial bridesmaid Elsa Rose can end a frustrating run of second placings and celebrate a breakthrough city victory at The Meadows tonight. Elsa Rose has finished runner-up at her last five starts, the most recent in the Bendigo to The Meadows Final last weekend, her only placing from four starts at the track. The daughter of champion sprinter/sire Fernando Bale has won just four of her 41 starts, but her record could easily read much better, having filled minor placings on 19 occasions. “It’s definitely been…