CD Cups head home to Canterbury

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Prebbleton trainer Michael House was once again a dominant force in Central Districts harness racing on Wednesday, taking out Otaki’s two feature races. Revenue gelding Break Free had a mountain to climb from his 70m back mark in the Wellington Cup Handicap Trot (3000m) and was aided by a cool-headed drive by Peter Ferguson. The eight-year-old was able to make light work of his handicap and tack onto the main field before improving to sit midfield at the 1400m mark. He was once again…

Father-son excel in HRNZ’s Super Stable competition

Harness Racing New Zealand’s Super Stable competition has been a double success for the father-son combo of Alan and Glen Murdoch. Alan Murdoch from New Plymouth won the overall competition, beating around 750 rivals in the process, and then gifted the main prize, a $20,000 spa from Canterbury Spa and Pool to his son Glen, who finished third overall. Jack Pitman from Christchurch was second. HRNZ would like to thank Canterbury Spa and Pool for its support. Free to enter, the fantasy-type competition ran from October 13 to the big…

Gale quartet primed for Otaki

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Doug Gale is looking forward to heading to Otaki on Wednesday after a couple of pleasing results at Tauherenikau earlier in the week. The Bulls trainer took three runners to the Wairarapa meeting on Monday and went home with two runner-up results, including Raging Whitebait in the Wairarapa Cup (2000m). Gale has been pleased with the way the son of Raging Bull has come through the run and is confident he will put in another bold showing in the Assess It Otaki Cup (3000m)…

Mach Quillan favoured in today’s Roxburgh Cup

By Jonny Turner Brad Williamson has no plans to change his tactics behind Mach Quillan in today’s Roxburgh Cup. The Gore pacer comes into Roxburgh’s biggest race after producing a bold recent second placing in his home-town Cup, only beaten by the fast-finishing Franco Norton. Mach Quillan takes on a somewhat similar line up minus Franco Norton, who was scratched earlier this week. After leading up and running a strong second on the roomy Gore track, Mach Quillan should be even harder to catch if he finds the top around…

Selections | Kapiti – Today

Trottech’s selections for the Kapiti Coast  Harness Racing Club meeting on the grass at Otaki.   Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 110.37am 5 Cristiano Buccini2 Swimintheriver11 Cali Franco9 The Elite Athlete   Race 211.04am 6 Major Collect 3 Artful Living7 Rollwithit8 Clymenus Race 311.31am 2 Private Eye3 Whitebait Marg4 Carrera Lucia5  Addo Carr Race 411.58am 6 Letsgodancing7 Call Security2 Ideal Zen5 Boulton Home   Race 512.24pm 8 Break Free7 Full Of Hope3 Mocca Francy2 Storms Acoming  Race 612.50pm 6 Where’s Daddy3 Raging Whitebait7 Superstar Legend5 Santanna Mach 

John Dunn brings up 1500th win in style at Omakau

by Jonny Turner A tenacious Henry Hubert delivered John Dunn his 1500th driving win in New Zealand when he willed himself to victory in the Group 3 Central Otago Cup at Omakau yesterday. Challenged and clearly headed in the home straight, the pacer reminded punters of his status as an established open class star when lifting late to score. After a frustrating spring which included being ruled out of the New Zealand Cup, due reward came to Henry Hubert who showed he is feeling right back to his best with…

Team Purdon underway in 2023

By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s newest and possibly most powerful training operation can only get better. Because it can’t get any worse than the start for champion trainer Mark Purdon and new partner, his son Nathan. Nathan finally officially joined the family business at the All Stars on New Year’s Day as he became a partner after the leaving of Hayden Cullen to join Team Telfer. The new partnership was no real surprise and had been hinted at for some time but Mark says it is great to have his…

Delany dominates Wairarapa card

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Auckland reinsman Nathan Delany kicked off his season in the best possible fashion when recording a winning treble at Tauherenikau on Monday. It was a return home of sorts for Delany, who spent his youth just over the Remutaka Range in Wellington, and he was delighted it was at the Wairarapa venue that he recorded the first double and treble of his career. He got off to a flying start when reining home Mocca Francy to take out the opening race on the six-race…

Rachmaninov – “he’s never felt better”

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A veteran of 178 starts, Rachmaninov was back in the winner’s circle at Rangiora yesterday, with trainer-driver Trevor Grant delighted at how well his eight-year-old trotter is going. “He’s never felt better.” The previous start Rachmaninov was a very unlucky second in a R35-39 race at Motukarara but with yesterday’s Canterbury Honda Mobile being an up to and including R65 he was largely ignored by punters. Even Grant himself wasn’t that confident beforehand but he got the perfect sit behind Silverlinings and then…

Punter’s guide to Omakau today

Talent-packed fields await punters at today’s eleven-race harness racing meeting at Omakau. Racing journalist Jonny Turner has dissected each event and nominated five runners whose performances are set to have a big impact on Omakau’s big race day. Rise Up N Dance This three-year-old is a full sister to the excitement machine Shut Up N Dance, who showed incredible talent during an incredibly short career which was curtailed by injury. Judging by Rise Up N Dance’s trials he certainly has some of the family ability. Exactly how much should become…