Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin They are two old men playing a young man’s game. But that doesn’t mean Mach Shard or Self Assured can’t win tonight’s $250,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park. Mach Shard is nine, retirement home time for most elite horses, has had 107 starts and in Crystal Hackett has a young junior driver who a month ago had never won a Group 1 race. Yet if you had only ever seen his last two starts, stunning victories in the Taylor Mile and NZ Messenger, you would…

Meetings at Alexandra Park don’t come much bigger than Auckland Cup/Rowe Cup night so we have produced a special lift-out providing everything you need to know for this Friday night. Check it out here

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.   

By Mike Love Woodend trainers Craig and Aimee Edmonds will have be dual threats in today’s Anne Thompson Graduation Series Finals at Rangiora. In the $22,000 Trotters’ Final they line up Four Wise Women and A Fine Patrick. Four Wise Women is unbeaten in her only two race day appearances to date, one of which was a heat of the series, and A Fine Patrick won another heat in his only run this preparation. “They’ll both be very good chances,” said co-trainer Craig Edmonds. Four Wise Women, who will be…

By Jonny Turner The timing is right for Sodoyahavtime to make a long-awaited return to racing at Ascot Park today. The pacer hasn’t been sighted since running third in the Group 2 Kindergarten Stakes, amid a two-start campaign last year. That looks awfully strong form for the three-year-old to bring to a maiden event and his short odds ($1.90) reflect that. All trainer Brett Gray hopes is to see the best from the horse in race 6, the Northern Tavern Mobile Pace. “He is a nice horse and he has…

By Mike Love The country’s leading trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn will be looking for more success at Addington tonight when they line up multiple runners in both the night’s features, the Group 3 SENZ-NZ New Zealand 2YO Trotting Stakes and the Group 1 Avon City Ford New Zealand Welcome Stakes. With 74 wins this year, including 13 in May alone, Diamond Racing has been a dominant force and co-trainer Robert Dunn believes his team are where they need to be to play a strong hand again this evening. Race…

By Michael Guerin Speed freak pacer Old Town Road is getting a rare treat at Alexandra Park this Friday: he is going to the races. The six-year-old will tackle the $50,000 Roy Purdon Memorial on a stacked night at The Park as the strong autumn of northern harness racing continues before the grand finale of the Auckland and Rowe Cups next week. Superstar Australian trotter Just Believe is being allowed to miss the Anzac Cup this week and Merlin the same with the Roy Purdon as he has gone to…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.   

By Mike Love Betterthandiva is one of a few horses looking to scrape into the final of the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series as the 10th and final heat takes place at Ashburton today. Orari trainer Lionel Dobbs, with wife Janine, are confident the six year old Betterthancheddar mare will acquit herself well today. “I think she’s ready for it”, said Janine Dobbs. “She’s been working really well and she’s come through her last run pretty good. She should be up with them today provided she gets a good run and…