Trainer Stephen Marsh claimed his first hometrack win on the new Cambridge Jockey Club polytrack with promising two-year-old Fiscal Fun (NZ) (Zacinto) who was making her debut in the 970m juvenile event. A winner and runner-up at her two trials at the track earlier this year, Fiscal Fun jumped smartly from the inside gate with jockey Danielle Johnson sticking to the rails before kicking on in the straight and holding off the challenge from Red Vienna (Bull Point) to win by three-quarters of a length. Marsh was happy with the…
Month: May 2021
Father-and-son combine to win inaugural polytrack race
It’s been a while coming for New Zealand to have its first raceday on a synthetic track, but for Darryn and Sam Weatherley it was well worth the wait. The father-and-son team combined to win the first ever race on Cambridge Jockey Club’s newly developed polytrack on Wednesday courtesy of Champagne Princess (NZ) (Bachelor Duke) in the Magnum Industries 1550. Jumping from barrier 10, Champagne Princess settled three-wide with cover before jockey Sam Weatherley asked her to improve at the 600m mark. She swiftly looped the field and opened up…
Group One son of Kingman to Novara Park
Group One performer King Of Comedy will join Novara Park’s stallion roster this coming breeding season. Farm principal Luigi Muollo had been on the lookout for a son of outstanding young sire Kingman and is delighted with his acquisition. “He (Kingman) is one of the hottest names in European bloodstock circles, and King Of Comedy ticked all the boxes of pedigree, racetrack performance, type and commercial appeal,” Muollo said. Prepared by John Gosden for the bulk of his career for Lady Bamford, King Of Comedy was a winner at Sandown over…
Addington Weekly – May 19
Welcome to the Addington Raceway News update for May 19 with Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams.
Final date confirmed for Forbury Park
The Forbury Park venue will host its last harness racing meeting on July 8, it’s been confirmed. For months speculation has swirled about the future of the South Dunedin venue, after an Otago/Southland Tri-code Racing review in February recommended it close. The venue was not considered viable without substantial investment. Now it’s been agreed that Forbury Park will host its scheduled meetings this season. That means they will have meetings on May 27, June 10, June 24, and July 1 before their final meeting on July 8. From next season…
Independent Director vacancies
The Board of Harness Racing New Zealand Inc consists of eight members. One each from the Auckland and Christchurch harness racing clubs, four elected by the balance of harness racing clubs and two Independent Directors. HRNZ is currently seeking two Independent Directors; one for a term of approximately 18 months (until the conclusion of the 2022 HRNZ AGM – the balance of the incumbent’s three year term); and one for a term of three years (until the conclusion of the 2024 HRNZ AGM). This is a challenging and exciting time for…
Sublime talent to return to his devastating best
Following a run of four straight defeats, 25-month-old sensation Aston Fastnet is set to explode at Cranbourne tonight, according to The Watchdog. Check out the form expert’s comprehensive analysis of tonight’s Must Watch race, along with his daily $10 spend below. MUST-WATCH RACE: Cranbourne To Sandown (1-4 Wins) Heat 1 ASTON FASTNET The Clock Cranbourne Race 5 Box 3 520m 8:08pm Form https://watchdog.grv.org.au/meeting/565711068/race/5 The Watchdog says : ASTON FASTNET (3) is one of the sport’s brightest talents and he will be looking to atone for his luckless runs of late.…
News Briefs – May 19
Top mare out of Jewels Watch Me Now is the latest high profile horse to withdrawn from the Harness Jewels. The winner of seven from 17 has been pulled out of the 4YO Diamond after failing to replicate the form that saw her beat Amazing Dream in February’s Breeders Stakes at Addington. Other withdrawals include Special Way and Miss Crazed in the 4YO Ruby and Franco Indie in the 2YO Emerald. Chase Auckland to get scan Chase Auckland will undergo a scan after having issues following his fresh up run…
National title and more at stake for amateur drivers
Four races at three different meetings over four days will decide New Zealand’s next amateur driving champion. The country’s top 12 amateur drivers – six from both the North and South Islands – will duke it out at Cambridge (Thursday night), Auckland (Friday night) and Rangiora (Sunday). The northern venues will host one race each, with two at Rangiora. “Everyone gets a good draw and then a poor draw, and drivers don’t get to choose their horses,” says Canterbury Amateur Drivers Association president Arron Hutton, “it’s very levelling, and about…
Dailly chasing Group 1 Sandown double
Victoria’s leading trainer Andrea Dailly has an excellent chance of clean-sweeping Thursday night’s Group 1 double-header at Sandown Park, boasting the TAB favourites for both the Harrison-Dawson and Sapphire Crown finals. Superstar Shima Shine (Box 2) is the $2.40 elect in the male-only Harrison-Dawson (515m), Race 8 at 8.34pm, after returning to his brilliant best with a breathtaking 29.00sec heat victory, and narrowly missing out on becoming only the second greyhound to break the 29-second barrier twice. Tiggerlong Tonk (Box 8), a recent winner of the G1 Perth Cup, shapes…