By Michael Guerin Eurokash proved the perfect replacement for champion stablemate Muscle Mountain in the $45,000 Fiskens and Son Anzac Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday but the result could have been vastly different. Trainers Greg and Nina Hope decided to bypass the trotting feature with their champion and Eurokash was asked to step into the huge shoes as their Anzac Cup horse and at the first attempt he didn’t do a very good job. Eurokash stunned the Hopes by galloping badly at the start but to their relief it…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Kango just too good in Roy Purdon Memorial
By Michael Guerin Kango may no longer be a one-trick pony, even if it is a pretty good trick. The mammoth Cambridge pacer used that trick, leading and outstaying his rivals, to down hot favourite Self Assured in the $45,000 Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park on Friday night, with Heza Sport a close up third on his track debut. Those same tactics have won Kango a Franklin Cup and Kaikoura Cup, those valuable races just below the absolute best races like next Friday’s Auckland Cup. Kango has of course…
Williamson keen for hot streak to continue
By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson will be out to continue a golden recent run at Ascot Park on Saturday. The trainer has produced a winning double at the last two Invercargill meetings and he has three runners aiming to bring him a third. Jordan Anne has been among Williamson’s recent winners and she looks a big chance of taking home another victory on Saturday. “She has been going super – it was another good run last start,” Williamson said. “She is just drawn out a bit and with Miss Jessica…
The best four chances at Ascot Park today
To help punters out at Invercargill today southern-based journalist Jonny Turner has sorted out his best four winning chances on the day. Jordy – Race 2 – 12.30pm Jordy looks another strong hope on the Ascot Park card, especially after drawing barrier 1 in race 2. The pacer locked wheels and lost his winning chance at Winton last week. But Jordy made an excellent recovery, running on well into fifth placing. El Sirrar – Race 5 – 1.49pm El Sirrar was only just knocked off in his first start for…
Millwood Nike in, but Akuta scratched from Roy Purdon Memorial
What a turbulent 24 hours it’s been for Mark Purdon ahead of tonight’s meeting at Auckland. Yesterday there were fears that his gun fillies High Energy and Millwood Nike might be scratched after both pulled up walking short after track work. High Energy has since been ruled out of the Group 2 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes 3YO Championships but the unbeaten Millwood Nike will definitely start in the $130,000 Group 1 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes 3YO Fillies Final where she’s gunning for win number 14 in a row. And then…
Dexter Dunn confirmed to drive in Elitloppet
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Dexter Dunn has secured a drive in one of the world’s premier races, the Elitloppet in Stockholm, Sweden next week. It’s a major coup for the 10-time New Zealand champion driver who has earned more than $15m in stakes and been crowned driver of the year four times in North America. Dunn is scheduled to drive Stoletheshow, a Dream Vacation eight-year-old who earned a ticket to trotting’s big event with victory in the $240,000 Finlandia-ajo held at the Vermo Racetrack in Finland. Last…
Bionic Chance honoured in fillies race at Addington tonight
With the running of the first ever Woodlands Stud Bionic Chance Bracelet for the two-year-olds at Addington tonight we thought we’d look at the record-breaking filly the race is named after. By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Four words sum up Bionic Chance, according to Lindsay Kerslake. “She had incredible speed.” Kerslake was heavily involved with the star filly. His parents Alister and Betty co-bred the daughter of Majestic Chance, with Alister both the trainer and driver when she won debut at Waimate on Dec 14, 1985. He would…
Race day return for Bob Butt at Addington tonight
by Jonny Turner Bob’s back at Addington on Friday night. Bob Butt will make his highly anticipated return from back surgery to link up with a strong team from his own stable entered on the 10-race card. Butt’s first drive back from his injury lay off looks a good one in Brilliant Lulu. The three-year-old has trialled well leading into her debut in race 3. Though she’s likely to start at short odds, punters shouldn’t expect her to automatically zoom to the front from barrier 1. “She has trialled up…
McGowan goes back to back at Cambridge
By Michael Guerin David McGowan didn’t enjoy the kind of celebration you might expect after equalling his best driving season in 23 years at Cambridge on Thursday night. McGowan, who trains in partnership with wife Clare, made it two driving wins on consecutive Thursdays at Cambridge when Olegro was too good in the maiden trot. That followed McGowan reining Castana to win at the same venue last week and those two driving successes equal McGowan’s best season in the cart since 1999. Back then McGowan drove four winners and while…
Purdon with two leading chances in “Dad’s race”
By Michael Guerin Normally the name of a race has very little to do with the result but that may not be the case in the Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park tonight. The $45,000 feature is the final lead-up to next Friday’s Auckland Cup and lead-up races to Group 1s can be dangerous for punters as the driving tactics are often conservative as nobody wants to give their horse a gutbuster a week out from the more lucrative target. That could have been especially prevalent tonight as the pacing…