Author: NZHarnessNews

Grimson goes back-to-back at IDs

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton Jason Grimson capped one of harness racing’s most amazing 12 months when he snared back-to-back in Inter Dominion pacing final wins at Melton last night. Few had heard of Grimson this time last year when he won the Menangle Inter Dominion final on protest with despised outsider Boncel Benjamin. Since then, he’s emerged as a major Group 1 open-class giant-killer through the Majestic Cruiser and now I Cast No Shadow. Last night’s upset win with I Cast No Shadow was his fifth open-class Group 1 training win…

Another big day for May in Methven

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  It’s fair to say that no-one knows the Mt Harding race course like Ricky May does. “It’s right at my backdoor.” With 10 drives on today’s 11-race programme he heads into the Green Mile meeting at Methven looking to add to an impressive record. He has already had 121 wins there since his first in 1980! Included are a total eight Green Mile wins – five pacing and three trotting. He drove the two winners in 2017, both in new race records. A…

Zara Power’s first win – “such a cool feeling”

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Working at the local pub is not the usual pathway to the winner’s circle at Addington but it was a route that worked for junior driver Zara Power, her got her first ever winner at headquarters on Friday night. Power drove the perfect race to get Greenbank Don home in the maiden trot at only her 11th drive. She was aided when the leader Noah Magnific galloped at the 150m mark but Power had already done all she could, having got Greenbank Don away from the 2000m…

Manhattan impresses ahead of Queen Of Hearts

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Manhattan’s future broodmare value received its second major boost in five days at Alexandra Park on Friday night. But don’t bother trying to buy the exciting mare because the syndicate who own her are having the time of their lives and are just as excited about breeding from her in the future. Manhattan earned her ninth career win and her first Group 3 when she led throughout in the Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes with Matty White handling her beautifully, never taking his foot off the gas…

Local takes out Manawatu Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk A change in environment has proven to be a masterstroke with three-year-old gelding Hail Lucius. His connections elected to bring him back to the Central Districts after racing in the competitive Canterbury scene and entrusted him to Levin trainer Murray Gibbs. The Horowhenua horseman struck instant success with the horse, securing a win first-up for the stable at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday and he returned to the Palmerston North track two days later to take out The Cobb Manawatu Cup (2500m). Gibbs was delighted…

Thornley still leading Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship

NZHarnessNews

Canterbury’s Sam Thornley has a seven point lead at the top of the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship heading into the final two days of racing. At Maryborough in rural Victoria yesterday he had a second with Cronk in the first of the day’s two heats to help him to a total of 56 points, with Western Australia’s Emily Suvaljko in second place on 49. The other two Kiwis in the championship Sarah O’Reilly (29) and Crystal Hackett (22) are currently seventh and ninth. Nine heats are being held this week…

Scintilating debut from Captain Tom

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Trainer Alister Black unleashed a pacer with a big future at Winton yesterday in slick debut winner Captain Tom. The two-year-old impressed when charging away from his opposition to win race 4 in the track record breaking mile (1609m) time of 1.53.9. Though Captain Tom isn’t always electric in his work at home, it has been clear to his trainer that the horse has some real class about him. “He is quite a lazy sort of trackworker, but he always seemed like he had a very good…

Moran looking to “good surprise” in ID final

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton David Moran is driven by disappointment to win this Inter Dominion pacing final aboard Honolua Bay. Few have endured a past 12 months quite like Moran, starting with driving this week last year when he “won” the Inter Dominion pacing final on Expensive Ego, just to lose it on protest less than 30 minutes later. Soon after he started a seven-month stint on the sidelines through suspension for some misdemeanours. What kept him focused during his time out was the knowledge his mighty pacer Lochinvar Art was…

Dalgetys bullish about their chances at Addington tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety says his two stable stars are in for vastly different summers after brave efforts at the Grand Prix meeting last Sunday. Which means punters can expect to see Krug back up in the $100,000 Invercargill Cup on Saturday week while Republican Party will be heading to the paddock. “Republican Party has had a great year and while Akuta was too strong for him in the Derby I was very proud of our horse,” says Dalgety, who trains with his wife Chrissie. “We considered the Chariots…

Ray Green to miss Copy That’s return tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Trainer Ray Green has two goals for today: a winning return for NZ Cup hero Copy That and a couple of good meals. Green won’t be at Alexandra Park to see Copy That start a red-hot favourite ($1.55) in the Connell Contractors Mile as he is back in hospital after losing 12kgs in the last two weeks since being kicked by a horse. His injuries from that incident meant Green needed an operation on his stomach region but he was soon home and back at work, as…