Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin There are few things more dangerous for punters than lead-up races to group 1s but trainer Bob Butt can allay those fears around his two winning chances in the $50,000 Garrard Mares’ Champs at Addington tonight. Tonight’s $50,000 sprint is Addington’s first major race of the new season but is still a lead-up to the group 1 Breeders Stakes in two weeks, a race with significantly more value for a mare’s future breeding career. While many of tonight’s favourites, like the Butt pair of Manhattan and Callies…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Better’s Tart is in the form of her life as she heads to the Gr.2 Garrards ‘Premier Mares’ Championship Mobile Pace (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Friday. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight has won all three of her starts this preparation, pleasing trainers Brent and Tim White. “She has come back a different beast this prep,” Tim White said. “She has developed into a lovely mare and what we always thought she could be. She has a bit of staying power now.” Better’s Tart…

Oliver Kite got on the board in 2023 with a well-judged drive to win with Hurricane Hendrix at Oamaru yesterday. The junior driver scored the 12th win of his career when the pacer trainer by his boss Nathan Williamson went to the line untested in race 8. There may have been a few nervous moments for punters when Hurricane Hendrix stepped away slowly from the standing start tapes. But Kite felt he had the situation well in hand. “I just thought I wouldn’t rush him early.” “Once he was away…

The Wairio Trotting Club host their annual Cup Day at Central Southland Raceway in Winton on Saturday in a departure from the regular date which in past years was prior to Christmas. The Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup for a stake of $20,000 over a distance of 2400 metres is the feature race of the eleven on the programme. The new January spot on the calendar makes the race day an ideal day for families says Club President, Rowena Mackintosh. “Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere while…

By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson is a driver to follow at his home track at Oamaru on Wednesday. The reinsman combines with a great book of drives including Jovial Jay who caught the eye with his fresh-up effort at Winton. The Graeme Anderson and Mike Love trained pacer raced wide in the last 1000m of his last run before going on to hit the line strongly. With a little more luck in race 6, the pacer could take plenty of catching. “He went great first up and he has had…

By Michael Guerin Trainer Phil Williamson thought Majestic Man’s travelling days were over but now he hopes they last a couple of months. Williamson and his $700,000-plus earner will return to Victoria this week for what could be a six-week campaign starting with the $50,000 Dullard Cup at Melton on Saturday night. Majestic Man sealed his trip with an all the way win at Cambridge in January 12 but just as big a factor was who was not going to be there. “The last couple of seasons Sundees Son, Bolt…

By Michael Guerin Open class star South Coast Arden is off to Sydney and will join the Paul Fitzpatrick stable. The two-time Group 1 winner has not raced since finishing last in the New Zealand Cup won by Copy That on November 8 and has been spelling most of that time before spending a few weeks in treadmill training. Co-owner Phil Kennard confirmed the move to HRNZ and says he and the other owners see it as more likely to be permanent than solely a NSW campaign. “We had a…

As a winner of three of his last four races, Wy Fi looks to have a good future, and his new co-owner John Preston hopes he’s picked up a bargain. The Love You four-year-old was sold for $21,000 on Gavelhouse last week, with the horse due to arrive at his new home in Southland this week. “He’s a big and exciting horse,” says Preston, “and I was impressed with the way he bolted in at Motukarara.” Trained by the powerful All Stars barn, Wy Fi was three wide in the…