Day: 19 February 2025

Kimberly Butt is all in on Next Gen

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Kimberly Butt can scarcely believe what happened at this week’s NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale in Christchurch. In a bit over two hours she signed off on three yearlings for a combined price tag of $350,000. “It was something you only dream of, it was incredible, a real pinch yourself moment,” says Butt And it all revolves around big spending Australian Joshua Davine and his N40 Racing. He was in direct contact from Sydney at the time.   “Kim was getting a bit…

Submissions requested from Clubs on draft 2025/26 Dates Calendar

NZHarnessNews

Harness Racing New Zealand is inviting feedback from clubs and kindred bodies on the first draft of the 2025/26 Dates Calendar. The calendar features a proposed total of 300 meetings, an increase of 11 over the current season, with the upper South Island getting nine new meetings and the North Island two more. The additional dates are not funded at this time. The Code Funding negotiations are underway. The number of meetings in the southern area remains unchanged, though Southern Harness will host 33 Sunday meetings, 13 more than at…

News Briefs – February 19

NZHarnessNews

Team Teal goes past $5000, Orange and House lead the premierships, and a job vacancy at Addington all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Team Teal’s big fund-raiser Harness Racing New Zealand’s annual Team Teal fund-raiser has just topped $5000, with the promise of a lot more to come. The campaign started on February 1 and will go through to March 16 with money raised every time a female driver in this country wins a race. That money comes from HRNZ, individual clubs and the drivers’ individual sponsors. So far…

Mr Brightside Heads Futurity Stakes 2025 Field & Betting

AAP

The 2025 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday shapes up as a fascinating contest, with the appearance of the mighty Mr Brightside headlining a quality field. Punters have flocked to back the reigning champion, and he is a pronounced short-priced favourite to defend his title in this $750,000 Group 1 feature. Mr Brightside’s credentials are […] The post Mr Brightside Heads Futurity Stakes 2025 Field & Betting appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.

Best Rose shines with impressive second-up performance

NZRacingDesk

Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m). A filly by Maurice, Best Rose had made two trial appearances for Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable before venturing south to their Riccarton base where she debuted for second behind Zelia. The pair were set to go head-to-head again at the midweek meeting and despite the last-start defeat, Best Rose closed an odds-on favourite at $1.60, with Zelia at $2.90…

Hastings fillies out to break maiden at Wanganui

NZRacingDesk

After going through all stages of life together so far, it would be a fitting result for Meltemi (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Wild Thyme (NZ) (Darci Brahma) to collect their maiden victories in respective races at Wanganui on Friday. The three-year-old fillies were bred by Richard McKenzie, an equine veterinarian by trade, who trains the pair in partnership with Jordan Bassett. Back in 2020, the Hastings couple elected to send the dams of both fillies to Darci Brahma, mating with The Oaks Stud’s former sire on the same day. “Ironically,…

Vegas Queen chasing sought-after NZB Kiwi spot

NZRacingDesk

There are only a few slots to fill in next month’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), and Ruakaka filly Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) will be seeking to secure one of them when she heads to Ellerslie on Saturday to contest the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).  The daughter of Proisir scored her maiden win at her home track as a juvenile in July and has hardly put a foot wrong as a three-year-old, running fourth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) before posting two runner-up…

Linebacker set to go one better in Hobartville

NZRacingDesk

Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) might have been beaten fair and square by Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon) first-up, but co-trainer John O’Shea can make a strong case for him to turn the tables in the Hobartville Stakes. Not only will Linebacker meet his last start conqueror at level weights, he is also expected to strip significantly fitter for what was just his third run in 10 months. “He has never won at six (furlongs, 1200m) so we were always a bit dubious on him first-up,” O’Shea said. “He just executed a little poorly but…

Ellerslie run to be the decider for smart 2YO

NZRacingDesk

Talented southern filly Miss Ziggy (NZ) (Brazen Beau) will provide trainer Andrew Carston with answers to her immediate program on Saturday. The daughter of Brazen Beau has acquitted herself well in strong company this season and will step out in the TAB 2YO (1100m) at Ellerslie with her performance to determine the future path she takes. Miss Ziggy will be coming off a gallant third in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), in which she didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs. She settled well back after being crowded at barrier rise…