Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Two of New Zealand’s glamour fillies are in doubt for tomorrow night’s Alexandra  Park meeting. Stablemates High Energy (Lone Star Sires’ Stakes Trot) and Millwood Nike (Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes Championhship) both pulled up short in their action after working on Thursday morning. Purdon notified the RIB and the TAB suspended markets on their two races while Purdon sought a veterinary inspection. “I don’t think they are serious issues and could be due to the wet weather up here and how it softens their hooves,” says co-trainer…

A comprehensive review of Harness Racing New Zealand’s handicapping system is about to get underway, with the members of the Review Committee and the Terms of Reference now confirmed. The HRNZ Board commissioned the review following feedback about the current system. The Harness Rating System Review Committee will identify the pros and cons of the present set up with the aim of finding “the fairest method of handicapping to ensure competitive racing throughout the country for all horses”. The committee will be chaired by Rob Lawson and also feature North…

By Adam Hamilton Brent Lilley (pictured above, far left) is loving being back “home” in New Zealand, but part of his mind is in Sweden. Although this year’s famed Elitloppet is still more than a week away, Lilley is pondering whether he could be there next year. “It’s more than 12 months away and there’s lots to play out, but I do think Queen Elida would be an ideal trotter to take to the Elitlopp,” he said. “She’s just so versatile. She can work early and is just so fast…

by Michael Guerin Trainer John Dickie has seen something this week he hadn’t in a long time from his exciting pacer Old Town Road. He ran past another horse. It may have only been a Pukekohe workout and the horse Old Town Road ran past, Kango, may have fought back to beat him but for Dickie the intent of his stable star’s sprint was a crucial pointer to his chances at Alexandra Park over the next eight days. Old Town Road was opened the TAB’s $2.70 favourite for tomorrow night’s…

By Michael Guerin Local trainer Arna Donnelly is hoping to start a huge 28 hours with a win at Cambridge tonight. Donnelly takes her stable stars headlined by Kango to Alexandra Park tomorrow night, where the big horse contests the Roy Purdon Memorial. He warmed up for that with a strong win over Old Town Road at the Pukekohe workouts last weekend and Donnelly says the 2200m standing start with a 10m advantage over the favourites might be Kango’s chance. “He is ready to go and ready to be driven…

This week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Matt Cross. 

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News. 

Age no barrier for veteran What an absolute war horse Take After Me is. The dual gaited son of Holmes Hanover’s win at Ashburton on Sunday was his 18th career victory from a mammoth 320 starts dating back to 2014. He has had four wins from 124 starts as a pacer, and 14 from 196 as a trotter. Trained by Fred Scott in North Canterbury, Take After Me has had the second most starts by a standardbred ever in this country. He is 27 behind Alexy (347). Double double for…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk When Rachmaninov fronted up on race day for the first time he was up against a future trotting superstar – not that anyone knew it at the time. It was February 10, 2017 and Rachmaninov finished fifth at Addington, with the race winner being another debutant by the name of Sundees Son. Sundees Son went on to win 34 races from 72 starts and over $1.4m on his way to twice being crowned Horse of the Year. While he retired earlier this year,…