Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Fresh from finally making an impression at the home of Sydney harness racing Kiwi driver Tim Williams wants to double down today. Williams won his first ever feature race at Menangle on Saturday night when B D Joe declared himself a contender for the A$1million Miracle Mile by sitting parked to pace 1:50.6 on his Australian debut. It was a significant first strike for the Telfer/Cullen stable as they start to target Aussie riches from their ever-expanding empire which has grown to be the biggest harness racing…

By Jonny Turner Gavin Smith enjoyed reminding everyone of his class in the sulky during a double-cup winning weekend. Smith got Waitangi weekend off to a great start with a winning double at Addington on Friday night with Trot To Chevron and Skyvale. The reinsman completed a double of a different kind when driving Sam’s Town to win the Amberley Cup at Rangiora on Monday. The victory followed up Smith’s win with Heston Hall in the Waikouaiti Trotters Cup just a day earlier. “It was a good night Friday, a…

By Jonny Turner John Morrison will have plenty of options in front of him when he teams up with Franco Marek in the Rangiora Equine Services Amberley Cup on Monday (4.17pm). The Greg Manson trained pacer takes on a very competitive country cup line up in the Amberley Club’s annual feature at Rangiora. Though the Rangiora grass circuit is known as a track that most horses have to be handy on, punters shouldn’t panic if they see Franco Marek slightly off the pace. Driven on the speed in many of…

By Jonny Turner  Nathan Williamson edged closer to one milestone while Bob Butt completed another with Get Up N Dance’s win in the Waikouaiti Cup on Sunday. The two horsemen combined to seal a Waikouaiti Cups double for Butt had already trained Heston Hall to win the Waikouaiti Trotters Cup with Gavin Smith in the sulky. Get Up N Dance has always had plenty of class, but he hasn’t shown it in all of his runs through the spring and summer. But some fine tuning from Butt had the horse…

by Adam Hamilton  It was a big night for the Kiwis at Menangle last night. Republican Party secured his Chariots Of Fire spot with an easy win in the Group 3 Hondo Grattan Stakes, while B D Joe made a move towards the Miracle Mile by winning the free-for-all. With Blair Orange at Melton, Carter Dalgety took the reins and coasted to a 4.2m win on Republican Party to win by 4.2m in a 1min52.4sec mile. It was really a dash home with a 26 sec flat last quarter. B…

By Adam Hamilton A minor bleed and 28-day ban for Kiwi star Copy That marred an otherwise memorable Hunter Cup at Melton last night, won by Honolua Bay and top driver David Moran. The setback continued Copy That’s horror run of “issues” on Melbourne raids, but trainer Ray Green is adamant it won’t impact his quest to win the $1 million Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 14. Copy That became fired-up after an unsuccessful burn to take the lead from pole marker Spirit Of St Louis. He over-raced…

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Teal Pants ambassador Crystal Hackett looks a driver to follow on the second day of the Hawera meeting today. The talented junior driver’s good book of drives includes $3.80 favourite Nelson’s Boy in the day’s feature, the South Taranaki Club Hawera Cup Handicap Pace at 3.34pm. Nelson’s Boy was a hard luck story on Friday, galloping just as he looked like he was going to take out the Colin Jones Memorial Stratford Trotting Cup. He still managed third behind Hesashorething and Franco Hoffman.…

by Jonny TurnerLittle brother has given Get Up N Dance a hard act to follow in the Waikouaiti Cup on Sunday. Broodmare gem Dance N Delight has already produced an impressive winner this week with the three-year-old Art Major gelding Rise Up N Dance impressing at Addington in just his second start at the races. Big brother Get Up N Dance, by Rock N Roll Heaven, will be out to make his own mark on the Oamaru grass. According to trainer Bob Butt, the 3000m staying test looks ideal for…

By Adam Hamilton Just Believe became the “King” of Australian trotting last night. His easy win in the $300,000 Group 1 Great Southern Star at Melton followed the Inter Dominion final victory on December 10. It’s been the most remarkable few months for the trotter, who only joined Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars’ Larajay Farms stable in September. The seven-year-old has won nine of 14 starts for Tubbs and Sugars with another four seconds and a third. In that time, he’s banked close to $500,000. In contrast to his tough…

By Michael Guerin Driver John Dunn loves the new Mighty Looee but he is just worried about how much further he can go. Because this new 2023 iron horse version of the son of Sweet Lou is getting awfully close to serious open class and his new tactics may not wash in the big league. Mighty Looee made it three wins on end in 2023 when he again led and blazed some sensational times at Addington on Friday night, his 53.9 last 800m and 26.1 final 400m about as fast…