TAB Trot Slot race added to the Grins Night of Champions

Waikato-BOP Harness Racing, Entain Australia and New Zealand (TAB) and Harness Racing New Zealand are excited to announce Australasia’s first slot race for trotters, the TAB Trot Slot (2200m, mobile) worth $655,000. The ground-breaking race will be run alongside The Race by Grins for pacers on the illustrious Night of Champions at Cambridge Raceway on Friday April 12, 2024. “Our vision for the Night of Champions is ambitious,” Cambridge Raceway CEO Dave Branch (pictured) said. “We want to make it the pinnacle night of harness racing in Australasia, more than…

Parisal, Magic Time vying for The Nivison favouritism

Parisal is the early favourite for The Nivison at Rosehill this weekend. (Photo: Racing NSW) It’s a wide-open edition of the Group 3 Nivison (1200m) this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. 14 mares are set to lineup for the occasion, as the James Cummings-trained Parisal holds the call as a firming favourite with top online bookmakers at +220 after a runner-up finish in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 2. She won’t have it all her own way, however, as the four-year-old has drawn an awkward marble…

Gilgai Stakes attracts 14 sprinters

Jigsaw is set to return in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes at Flemington. (Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos) The Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) has attracted a competitive field of 14 sprinters set to duke it out down the Flemington straight on Saturday. Having claimed the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) first-up from a long layoff, the Clinton McDonald-trained Star Patrol will be looking to add further Group success to an already impressive career record. The five-year-old will once again be partnered by Ben Melham, with the pair combining for…

Rose Of Kingston Stakes favourite draws perfectly

Princess Grace has drawn barrier five for the 2023 Rose Of Kingston Stakes. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) A strong field of 14 mares are set to do battle in the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday afternoon. Race favourite Princess Grace (-117.65) has drawn perfectly in barrier five for Saturday’s 1400m affair as she looks to build on impressive runs in Group 1 assignments to begin her spring campaign. The Rose Of Kingston Stakes will be the first time Princess Grace has stepped out…

IRT NZ Cup to go on tour

Racegoers will soon have three chances to get up close to harness racing’s greatest prize, and also win tickets to the biggest race day of them all. For the first time the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup will be on show at meetings around the South Island as part of the build-up to the great race at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. “It’s gone on tour before but not to any race meetings so we thought we’d take the Cup to the crowd this time,” says Addington Raceway’s Sponsorship Manager…

News Briefs : October 4

NZ Cup still all go for Spirit Of St Louis Star Aussie pacer Spirit Of St Louis remains on target to tackle the New Zealand Cup. The former Kiwi, who has soared to a $1.2m earner with Team McCarthy, has one final hurdle to clear – Saturday week’s Group 1 Victoria Cup.“If he runs well at Melton, then we’re off to New Zealand,” Luke McCarthy said.Although Spirit Of St Louis has not raced from a standing start in Australia, he has trialled well and he won two standing start races…

Key Largo posts Tauranga win

Going in the right direction, Key Largo (NZ) (Ocean Park) produced a stylish victory in the Judea Tavern Maiden (1600m) at Tauranga on Wednesday. “He’s built to a nice win after continuing to strengthen and grow in confidence with racing,” said co-trainer Pam Gerard. Stripped ready for action, with Kozzi Asano aboard, Key Largo was first out from barrier nine and crossed to lead without spending too much. After dictating terms in front, he was joined by a line of three turning for home, briefly headed inside the 300m, but…

Temperton hoping for successful week across CD

Foxton trainer Gail Temperton is looking forward to an exciting week across the Central Districts, first with her diminutive jumping talent Harry Harrison (NZ) (Haradasun) contesting the Tararua Hedge Cutting Ltd Open Hurdle (3000m) at Woodville on Thursday. The Haradasun eight-year-old has shown his affinity for the hurdle fences this season, taking victories at Waverley and again when stepping into open company at Hawera last start. “Harry is quite a unique individual, he’s very small and I’m a bit concerned about the heavy track and the increased weight for him,…

Lost And Running retired

Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto), a one-time The Everest (1200m) second favourite, has been retired. Trainer John O’Shea elected to bring down the curtain on his star sprinter’s racing career following his disappointing last-placed finish in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, a race he won last year. “Lost And Running has run his last race. We have decided to retire him. He has been such a great horse for our stable,” O’Shea said. “The fact that he just didn’t give his best on Saturday tells us…