All Stars lead premiership The All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen has opened up a one win lead at the top of the trainers’ premiership after their mega Grand Prix day at Addington on Sunday. The Rolleston-based barn had five winners – all Group 1s – to be on 90 wins for the year. Second is Steve and Amanda Telfer with 89, after their sole win on Sunday came with B D Joe in the last of the day in the Summer Cup. Purdon passes $2m By…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Newman to link up with Smith team
By Jonny Turner Korbyn Newman hopes he can make the most of his chances from Gavin Smith’s barn at Oamaru on Wednesday. Newman links up with three of Smith’s team who look big winning threats on the Oamaru grass. The reinsman rates the Smith trained Rakero Warrior of the strongest chance among his book of four drives. “My best chance – I would probably have to label Rakero Warrior in the maiden trot.” “It was a great run last start, he is knocking on the door so hopefully [Wednesday] is…
Arabian Blue scores at Manawatu
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Arabian Blue was racing in front of his owner Les Purdon for the first time at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday, and he made sure it was a winning experience. The Steve Dolan-trained gelding was launched off the gate by driver Devon van Til but was forced to do a bit of work to capture the lead off early leader Superstar Legend. The early hot pace strung out the field and van Til was left untroubled up front until turning for home where Arabian Blue…
Change of favourite for ID Trotting Final
By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi pair Queen Elida and Mufasa Metro head the betting as the Inter Dominion final took another dramatic twist at last night’s barrier draw. With the shock scratching of Kiwi superstar Bolt For Brilliance still sinking in, the trotter who replaced him as favourite, Just Believe, drew horribly for the final in barrier 12. He drifted from $2.50 to $5.50. Interestingly, there was an avalanche of money for Brent Lilley’s star mare Queen Elida after she drew inside the back row (gate eight) in the 2760m…
Australia beckoning Arabian Blue
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Australia is beckoning Canterbury pacer Arabian Blue, but trainer Steve Dolan is hoping that he can eke out a few more wins from the four-year-old gelding before he heads across the Tasman. En route to Auckland, the son of Auckland Reactor is making a pitstop at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday where he will contest the T Market Fresh Mobile Pace (2000m). It is a big drop in grade for the gelding and Dolan is expecting a positive result from the meeting. “He will be…
Breakthrough success for big money filly
A big money purchase at the yearling sales, Moet Shard has earned herself a Christmas break after winning her first race at Motukarara on Saturday. The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old benefited from a copybook Jim Curtin drive to take out the Rob Harneiss Thelma Memorial Fillies and Mares Mobile Pace. “Jimmy’s been great with the horse,” says trainer Jeff Whittaker, “she’s learning a lot about what it is to be a race horse … specially in the last four to six weeks.” With favourite Jezebel breaking early Moet Shard went to…
Australasian Young Drivers kicks off this week
Harness racing’s big trans-Tasman showdown for the young guns kicks off at Melton just outside Melbourne on Tuesday. Three Kiwis – Sarah O’Reilly, Crystal Hackett and Sam Thornley – will battle it out with six of their Australian rivals in the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship (Profiles for each NZ driver here) There will be nine heats spread across four meetings, and is held in conjunction with the Inter Dominions, that finish up this Saturday at Melton. Cameron Hart spearheads the Australian contingent while O’Reilly is the official defending champion. She…
Pure power and strength from brilliant Akuta
By Jonny Turner Akuta treated harness racing fans to the ultimate display of power and brute strength when brilliantly winning the Group One New Zealand Derby on Grand Prix Day at Addington. Settling many lengths off a hot tempo mattered little to the brilliant three-year-old who put away a brave Republican Party in an epic running of the three-year-old colts and geldings classic. Akuta’s backers faced the sight of the New Zealand Cup fourth placegetter settling many lengths off a hot early pace set up by an early lead battle…
Shiny new trophy for Manawatu Cup
For years Royden Williams photographed literally thousands of presentations to winning connections, especially around the Central Districts. Now he’s about to change things up. He’s bought a glass trophy from a specialist outlet in Florida which will be gifted to the winning owners of the Manawatu Cup at Palmerston North this Thursday, December 8. Why? Because it’s a race he’s particularly fond of. “The stake money for the Manawatu Cup is not much more than an average Friday night at Alexandra Park but to us in the CD it’s a…
Cambridge Raceway launch catering section
Cambridge Raceway took a leap towards their goal of becoming a first-choice events hub in the Waikato, with the launch of their new catering section, Off The Track Food & Bev. Led by Head Chef Michelle Thomson, Off The Track Food & Bev will take over all of Cambridge Raceway’s on site catering from January 1, 2023 and will also provide an out catering service. Thomson, who has more than 20 years’ experience, has been with Cambridge Raceway for the past six months, initially focused on the onsite Clubhouse sports…