Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin A 20m penalty seems a lot for just one win but driver John Dunn says it doesn’t end the chances of Aardiebythehill in the $50,000 Majestic Horse Floats Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park tomorrow. The up-and-coming trotter thrashed many of those he meets in tomorrow’s feature trot in the corresponding race two weeks ago but goes back to the 20m mark while those who finished in the placings stay on the front line over the 2700m. That gives them the option to step and run and make…

By Michael Guerin One of the great rollercoaster years in New Zealand harness racing history should end on a high at Alexandra Park tomorrow night. It is fitting Copy That is a hot favourite for the last race of any code in New Zealand in 2022 because in a year of remarkable stories the journey he and trainer Ray Green have been on has been one of the most undulating. Somewhat controversially Copy That will meet only three rivals in the $50,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup and even off a…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Group targets are on the horizon for Ruby Ridge following her win in the MVS Equine Handicap Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday. The daughter of Majestic Son was dropping back from Auckland grade, however, she had to overcome her 35m back mark and co-trainer Vaughan Blanchard admitted to being slightly concerned about that impost during the running. However, she showed her talents when running over the top of her rivals late to win by three-quarters of a length over Bun In The…

by Jonny Turner In cricketing terms, Bob Butt needs a run off the last ball of the last over. The Woodend horseman heads to Reefton on Friday with an impressive 49 training wins for the year. Butt’s last runner for 2022 will be leading Reefton Cup contender Get Up N Dance. Getting to 50 looks a distinct possibility for the trainer given his new recruit’s impressive stable debut victory at Rangiora. Get Up N Dance moved to Butt’s stable from Nathan Williamson’s barn to be beach-trained and it immediately made…

Matt Cross makes his selections for Reefton today.     Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Matt Cross Race 112:00pm 1 Helloveamoment4 Alforbet2 Kink7 King of Diamonds Race 212:28pm 1 Wolf of Wall Street8 Oh My Love7 Archie5 Michael Eyre Race 31:02pm 8 Melando Chief3 Finders Keepers2 All Too Well5 Baltimore Jill Race 41:37pm 8 Melania5 Sports Babe2 Tact Teel3 Style Council Race 52:15pm 7 All By Myself5 I’m Your Huckleberry6 Rapid Response4 Star Casino Race 62:50pm 1 Songbird9 Buddy Reign5 Speciale Uno4 Beeps Race 73:28pm 7 Get Up N Dance9…

by Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Promising pacer Franco Marek delivered his connections a late Christmas present when victorious in the Paul Renwick Joinery Motukarara Christmas Cup (2810m) on Thursday. The win was his fifth from just seven starts for trainer and part-owner Greg Manson, and the Lincoln horseman believes the four-year-old is only going to get better. Franco Marek was quietly away from his unruly position behind the 10m tape and settled off the pace behind Folklore for driver John Morrison. The son of A Rocknroll Dance enjoyed an…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Burnham trainer Mark Jones left Westport a happy man on Wednesday after recording a winning double, including the meeting’s feature. Tact Teel started the day off with a bang for the stable when winning the opening race, the Apparelmaster Pace (2000m). It was the first win for the son of American Ideal and Group One winner Tact Lizzy, and his future could now lie offshore. “He got into the right race and probably had to win that. He is from a good family. His…

by Jonny Turner Jonny Cox hopes a sharp change of tack can have Folklore in the winner’s circle at Motukarara on Thursday. The mare will revert to grass track racing and get behind the standing start tapes on the back of a more customary mobile sprint on Invercargill Cup Day. Known for her sharp turn of foot, it has only been getting too far back in the field that has stopped Folklore from putting her hoof in the till this time in. Cox hopes the mare can step away cleanly…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Hawera trainer Brendan Towers will return to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday hoping to repeat his winning result last week. His nine-hour round trip to the Waikato track was rewarded on Christmas Eve when Storms Acoming broke through for her maiden victory. The daughter of Muscle Mass and Group Three winner Emma Hamilton had 29 previous starts and Towers said racing against her own grade made the world of difference last week. “I changed a bit of gear and some feed lately, but down in…

The former Central Circuit Trainers Bonus has been resurrected and will be bigger and better than before with the three clubs (Central Otago Trotting Club, Roxburgh Trotting Club & Wyndham Harness Racing Club) putting up a total of $4,500! This will be allocated on a points basis run over two bonus schemes, one for public trainers and one for licence to train trainers. Public Trainers will have a pool of $4,000 with $2,500 for the winner, $1,000 for second and $500 for third. Licence to Train Trainers will have a…