Year: 2021

Green cherishes Copy That’s brilliant NZ Cup win

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner    Covid stopped him being there but it couldn’t stop Ray Green from delivering the training performance of a lifetime as Copy That staved off his rivals to win the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday. Green watched on from his living room as the horse he selected to buy before he was even a year old powered to a front-running victory in New Zealand’s greatest race four years on. With Green stuck in Auckland and owners, Meg and Merv Butterworth forced to watch on…

Knockout win for Oscar Bonavena

NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Mark Purdon had a New Zealand Cup day to remember at Addington Raceway on Tuesday with six wins, but the one that stood out above the rest was Oscar Bonavena’s victory in the Group 1 Livamol NZ Trotting Free-For-All (1980m). The Canterbury horseman, who trains the entire in partnership with Hayden Cullen, reined home the five-year-old to win his maiden Group One victory for Purdon’s father, legendary trainer Roy Purdon, and American-based expat Kiwi trainer Chris Ryder. “It will be very special for him…

Franco Indie heads dream result for Spreydon Lodge

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner A stunning display of speed and stamina from Franco Indie delivered the perfect result for Spreydon Lodge in the Group 1 Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day. The Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen trained pacer shrugged off sitting parked throughout the first age-restricted Group One of the harness racing season as he and his stablemate Franco Mac left their rivals chasing their dust. The victory not only continued an incredible day out for the Purdon-Cullen stable, it produced a perfect result for breeders Spreydon Lodge…

Fillies shine at Te Aroha

NZRacingDesk

Three-year-old fillies were to the fore at the Te Aroha racemeeting on Tuesday, with first starters Karman Line (NZ) (Myboycharlie) and Avalene (NZ) (Vadamos) making winning first impressions, while Marcella (NZ) (Sweynesse) was successful over 1200m at second time of asking.  None were more impressive than the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Karman Line, with the daughter of Myboycharlie closing from an impossible position mid-straight to post an ultra-impressive win, despite being unwanted in the betting as a $25 chance.  “Her trials had been good but we hadn’t put any…

Tiley delighted to be back racing at Pukekohe

NZRacingDesk

For experienced trainer Nigel Tiley, Thursday’s Pukekohe raceday for Auckland-trained horses is a godsend. Tiley will start five horses on the 11-race card, which Auckland trainers have embraced to a huge extent. Trainers inside Auckland’s Covid-19 borders have been able to race their horses outside the border, but they haven’t been able to travel with them and have relied on outside people to handle their horses at the track. Tiley, who has downsized his team so he and his wife Lee can spend winter outside New Zealand said the Covid…

Pike doubles down on Riccarton features

NZRacingDesk

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is happy to go two-by-two in three upcoming New Zealand Cup week features at Riccarton but he’d still like be coming out number one. Pike has Tellall and Dawn Parade in the Gr.2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile (1600m) and Providenceprovides and London Bound in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday and There You Go and Chanel in Saturday’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at the same track. Pike had earlier considered Providenceprovides as a candidate for the Coupland’s…

Mare out to emulate mother’s feature race success

NZRacingDesk

Robina Joy (NZ) (Iffraaj) will complete a unique family double if she can successfully rise to the sternest test of her career at Riccarton on Wednesday. The patiently handled daughter of Iffraaj has three wins from nine career appearances and booked her spot in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) with a last-start victory on her home track at Wingatui. Robina Joy is trained by Jackie Jones and she shares in the ownership with her father David, who bred the five-year-old. He also bred, owned and trained her…

McCooly’s Lad eyes Shootout surprise

Editor BOAY

Anthony Azzopardi doesn’t have any expectations heading into Thursday night’s Group 3 Shootout (515m) at Sandown Park, where his brilliant speedster McCooly’s Lad will continue his remarkable return from injury. But if McCooly’s Lad, which is $6.50 in TAB’s market on the four-sprinter feature, can upset last start G1 Topgun hero Aston Rupee, the raging $1.40 favourite, it won’t be the first time he’s surprised Azzopardi. A year ago when McCooly’s Lad suffered a career-threatening hock injury, vying for the title of the fastest greyhound in the country and preparing…

Krug scores redemption in Junior FFA

NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cran Dalgety breathed a sigh of relief when his star pacer Krug was first past the post in the Group 3 Dunstan Horsefeeds Junior Free-For-All (2600m) at Addington Raceway on Tuesday. The star three-year-old tailed the field home in each of his two starts this time in, missing away from the stand, causing some anxiety for Dalgety and his training partner, wife Chrissie. Punters took solace in his return to the mobile on Tuesday, backing him into $1.50 favouritism, and he duly rewarded their…

And that’s 5 wins for Mark Purdon on Cup day

NZHarnessNews

Race 1 : The East West Fencing Handicap Trot (2600m) :  Mark Purdon has opened his account with favourite American Pride winning the first on Cup day.  Starting off 20 metres American Pride went round to sit parked outside the pace-setting Cochy Malc before repelling a strong challenge from Springbank Mason and She Reigns, who produced a huge run off the backmark of 30 metres. Purdon had labelled American Pride as his best chance for the day and he delivered with his sixth win in 17 starts. Springbank Mason paid…