Author: NZHarnessNews

Changes have been confirmed for two upcoming trotting features at Alexandra Park. The Lyell Creek Stakes at Alexandra Park on April 21 and the ANZAC Cup On May 19 will be 2200m handicap races, with a backmark of 20 metres. In recent years they have both been run as 2200m mobiles. It’s envisaged the move back to handicap conditions will create more opportunities for the leading trotters at this time of the year and encourage emerging trotters as well, ensuring good-sized fields. The decision on the Lyell Creek Stakes was…

By Jonny Turner An outstanding front-running display at Winton yesterday has propelled Miss Jessica into the spotlight of premier racing at Addington. The gritty trotting mare outstayed her rivals to continue her excellent recent form, courtesy of a daring drive from Tom Nally. The win has booked Miss Jessica’s ticket to Addington next Friday night to compete in a final of HRNZ’s Racing Rewards Series. It means trainer Tim Robertson now gets the added bonus of looking forward to lining up his first runner at New Zealand’s premier harness racing…

By Adam Hamilton Grand old Aussie trotter Tough Monarch has been retired. For all of his great feats in his homeland, trainer-driver Rickie Alchin insists it was during a couple of New Zealand trips where Tough Monarch made his greatest mark. They were headed by his dashing win in the Group 1 NZ Trotting Free-For-All at Addington on November 12, 2019. Just three days later he ran second in the Dominion Trot behind Habibi Inta. “We took him back the next year and he ran third to Sundees Son in…

By Michael Guerin Nathan Purdon isn’t saying Oscar Bonavena can’t beat trotting giant Muscle Mountain at Addington tonight, he just wishes the race was two years ago. The pair clash in tonight’s $90,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Champs, the first of a series of huge trot races coming up over the next two months. While Australian trotter Aldebaran Zeus is expected to cross the Tasman for the northern trotting races starting with Cambridge on April 14 but until he gets here Oscar looks about the only trotter racing in…

By Michael Guerin Trainer Cran Dalgety knows tonight’s feature pace at Addington is more than a race for Krug, it could also be an audition. And the Canterbury trainer says his stable star is ready to nail the part. Krug will start favourite even from the outside of the gate in the Fahey Fence Hire Mobile, the Group 3 over 1980m, in his first start back since a luckless Menangle campaign. Dalgety realises winning tonight could get Krug the last slot into the $1million Race by Grins at Cambridge in…

Harness Racing New Zealand is looking for someone who can write snappy, interesting and topical stories. The opportunity is for a content writer who will predominantly write about race meetings right around the country, producing both previews and reviews for the HRNZ website and/or its social media channels. A knowledge of racing is desirable but consideration will be given to anyone who knows a good story, can write accurately and to deadline, and is willing to learn. It is envisaged the writer will contribute approximately five 300-word stories a week,…

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk Fresh from his first ever driving double on Wednesday night, Zev Meredith is going for another at Manawatu on Friday night. Yesterday the talented junior driver won with New York Minute for his Cambridge-based employer Arna Donnelly and then reined home Cristiano Buccini for Levin trainer Murray Gibbs. “It was my first double and it’s taken four years,” says Meredith, “and I was pretty eager to get it done and crossing the finish I was like ‘you beauty’.” The 20-year-old’s had 30 wins…

by Jonny Turner Tom Nally will seek more success at Winton today with the horse that started it all for him. Nally has racked up 14 wins since driving I’m Watching You to his first victory in the sulky in 2020. The pair have made an outstanding combination in the time since and they look a serious chance of combining for their sixth win together in race 4. So much so that Nally rates the Hamish Hunter trained pacer the best winning chance of his strong book of seven drives.…

By Michael Guerin Just a few years ago Arna Donnelly couldn’t have believed she would be where she is now. Where that is is the leading trainer in the Waikato and with her stable star Kango preparing to line up on her home track for $1million in The Race by Grins. Kango became the ninth and likely second-last invite to the race when his connections secured the Dunstan Feeds slot on Wednesday, bringing a real Waikato flavour to the April 14 race. He will not only have Donnelly as his…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.