Author: NZHarnessNews

Timing is everything for Phoebe Stud’s Grant Beckett and this week is a big one for his Canterbury operation. The boutique breeder, based at Broadfields near Christchurch, is currently offering seven weanlings for sale on standardbred.gavelhouse.com. They are all by his top sires Royal Aspirations and Imperial Count. “As a sheep farmer it’s about to get very busy with lambing so I have to move these weanlings on,” Beckett says. He’s also keen to get one step ahead of the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sales at Karaka on Thursday, May 25,…

by Jonny Turner Henry Maguire pulled out everything he had to seal a special victory in the Paul O’Neill Memorial at Ascot Park on Saturday. The pacer lifted to put his nose in front by the barest of margins on the line, as the late Paul O’Neill’s friends and family willed him home with roars from the grandstand. O’Neill’s memorial race was held 10 years to the day following his passing and with Henry Maguire raced by a syndicate the harness racing enthusiast was an integral founding member of, there…

By Adam Hamilton Champion driver Chris Alford predicted something special and that’s exactly what we saw from brilliant mare Queen Elida at Menangle last night. The Kiwi bred and owned five-year-old blew her rivals away with a stunning display in the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile for trotting mares’. The Brent Lilley-trained Queen Elida worked forward from a wide draw to sit parked early before Alford planted the foot and took the lead, leaving his main danger Im Ready Jet to sit parked and chase. Queen Elida broke her rivals…

By Jonny Turner Peter Hunter has been around horses long enough to know you don’t just show up in Canterbury and win. On paper, the Southland trainer-driver’s two-year-old filly Rakalou looks well capable of doing exactly that in the King Charles III Coronation 2YO Fillies Mobile at Rangiora on Sunday. Rakalou could barely have been more impressive in her first start at the races. After trialling well, she beat home several of her male rivals when running third behind the smart All Stars pairing of Vessem and Major Hot in…

by Jonny Turner John Dunn let Dance Til Dawn run and she did exactly that when powering a front-running victory in the Rico Lodge Listed Uncut Gems Mares Classic on a big night of racing at Addington. Dunn hustled the four-year-old forward in a hotly contested battle for the early lead and though the mare cut out solid early fractions it took no toll on her as she ran to a stakes race victory. A Group 1 placegetter as a two-year-old, Dance Til Dawn was spelled at the end of…

By Jonny Turner Abacardi Hazel heads a strong book of drives Mark Hurrell has at Ascot Park on Saturday. The leading Southland junior driver links up with several strong winning hopes including Abacardi Hazel who has been runner-up in her last two outings. The Murray Brown trained mares steps out on her home track after good recent efforts on grass in Canterbury and she looks primed for on a deserved victory. “She looks like a really good chance,” Hurrell said. “She has been going good races in Canterbury and on…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The grand old campaigner that is Sioux Princess has been retired, after 162 starts. The eight-year-old daughter of Majestic Son had 18 wins between 2018 and 2023, bankrolling $209,823.  “She certainly was a great horse for me, she made a big difference to my bank account” says trainer Mark Jones, “and everybody loved her. She fronted up every week.” “Everyone wants a horse like her in their stable.” Such was Sioux Princess’ durability that she raced 51 times in 2022, after 49 starts…

By Jonny Turner Southlander Brett Gray is sticking with a tried and true method as he prepares Joes Rock for the Rico Lodge Uncut Gems Mares Classic at Addington on Friday night. The speedy mare returns to Christchurch for the first time since her Group 1 placing in the New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Stakes in February. Joes Rock came into that race fresh, just like she did when heading into her last start win in the Southern Belle Speed Series Final. “It seems to work when we come in fresh,”…