By Adam Hamilton The freshly minted Telfer-Cullen team’s trans-Tasman raid is coming together superbly. Already with a win on the board courtesy of the classy B D Joe, Amanda and Steve Telfer and Hayden Cullen have three key runners across two nights at Newcastle and Menangle. And, crucially, all three have terrific barrier draws. It starts on Friday night when B D Joe and Alta Wiseguy chase a guaranteed Miracle Mile berth by winning the $100,000 Newcastle Mile. They both have gate speed and have drawn to use it from…
Author: NZHarnessNews
News Briefs : February 15
Work underway at Alexandra Park Work has started on repairing Alexandra Park after Auckland’s record rainfall a fortnight ago caused massive damage. Such was the flooding at the park that the track needs a full reconstruction. Under the guidance of Track and Venues Inspector John Denton that work has now got underway, though it’s still very much in the early stages. The work is expected to take a fortnight as long as there are no more weather disruptions. In the meantime all racing scheduled at Alexandra Park has been transferred…
No disruption to Harness Million meeting and Karaka Yearling Sale
By Michael Guerin A hugely busy weekend in northern harness racing will go ahead largely uninterrupted by Cyclone Gabrielle. The Harness Million meeting at Cambridge on Friday night will be followed by the NZB Standardbred yearling sale at Karaka on Sunday and both are good to go. “We have had no damage apart from a few trees in the training area but nothing that will affect the public or horses on Friday,” says Cambridge chief executive David Branch. “It is going to be a really good meeting because the $200,000…
Manawatu fields transferred to second day on Thursday
It’s been confirmed that the fields for today’s abandoned meeting at Manawatu will be transferred to Thursday. With Cyclone Gabrielle causing chaos across the North Island a national state of emergency was declared this morning. That prompted the abandonment of the seven race programme which was due to start at 4.05pm. “That was the final straw really,” says Manawatu Harness Racing Club president Dan Lynch, “there is some uncertainty about what the weather will bring and we are erring on the side of caution.” “With floats coming from Taranaki and…
Good draws for Kiwis in Newcastle Mile
by Adam Hamilton It was a mixed bag of feature race barrier draws for the Kiwi raiders in NSW this weekend. Things couldn’t have played out better for B D Joe and Alta Wiseguy in Friday night’s $100,000 Newcastle Mile when they drew barriers one and two respectively. Both are trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer and Hayden Cullen. Even before the draw, their hopes were boosted by Team McCarthy’s decision not to run Bondi Lockdown in the race. Luke McCarthy will take the reins on Alta Wiseguy with Tim Williams…
Manawatu meeting today abandoned
As Cyclone Gabrielle causes chaos in the North Island, Manawatu’s race meeting today has been abandoned. Such has been the devastation that a national state of emergency was declared this morning. “That was the final straw really,” says Manawatu Harness Racing Club president Dan Lynch, “there is some uncertainty about what the weather will bring and we are erring on the side of caution.” The seven race programme was due to start at 4.05pm. “With floats coming from Taranaki and from up north and drivers coming in from the South…
Purdon announces change of focus at All Stars
By Michael Guerin Champion harness trainer Mark Purdon has revealed the extent of his thoroughbred training ambitions as his All Stars stable gets ready for its next evolution. Purdon is in the north this week preparing for the Harness Million meeting at Cambridge on Friday night and will have a small team based here through until Auckland Cup time in late May. After recently being joined in partnership by his son Nathan he says the most feared stable in harness racing continues to undergo changes as Purdon seeks new professional…
Devenport duo primed for Manawatu
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Otaki trainer Wendy Devenport is hoping she can take home a couple of cheques when she heads to Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday. The Elite Athlete will have his fourth start for Devenport after joining her barn earlier this year where he has placed on two occasions, including last start at Hawera. The Betting Line gelding will be having his first start at the Palmerston North track in the Wenham Seeds Mobile Pace (2000m) and has drawn handy in gate two. “He has been quite…
Addington Raceway chuffed with their Coast to Coast debut
Having ticked off multisport’s biggest race, Addington Raceway’s Coast to Coast team insists this is just the start. For many, the energy sapping trudge from Kumara to New Brighton is a one-off. Not so for Addington’s three lycra wearing adventurers. They have already put their names forward for next year. “It was such a great experience,” says Addington Raceway’s Chief Executive Brian Thompson, who conquered the event along with Property and Facilities Manager John Denton and IT Manager Andy Ross. Their combined time for the 238 kilometres was 16 hours…
Team Teal cruises past $11,000
Harness Racing New Zealand’s Teal Pants campaign is going from strength to strength. The annual initiative started at the beginning of the month and already $11,000 has been raised, with all proceeds going towards ovarian cancer research. Yesterday’s Hororata Trotting Club meeting at Methven was a particularly good one. Seven female drivers won races for the cause, with Kirstin Green, one of five Team Teal ambassadors, adding to the tally at Invercargill. The Riverton Trotting Club at Ascot Park had a big emphasis on Team Teal yesterday, which will see…