Author: NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Amanda Telfer can’t wait to return to Addington Raceway for the Harness Grand Prix meeting after a perfect result at the Christchurch track on Sunday. Three of Stonewall Stud’s juvenile fillies stepped out in the Aces ‘All In’ 2YO Fillies Mobile (Pace) ahead of next Sunday’s Group 1 Ace of Diamonds (1980m) and Telfer was thrilled to see her runners fill the first three spots. Group 1 performer Ardiebytheseaside led home the trifecta, with Blair Orange reining Forever Me home for second, while Sweet…

By Adam Hamilton Emerging training force Jason Grimson didn’t win an Inter Dominion heat, but still turned plenty of heads on opening night. Grimson, who won last year’s Inter Dominion pacing final on protest with Boncel Benjamin, said this year’s quest was “right on target” with Majestic Cruiser running third and I Cast No Shadow finishing fourth in their Ballarat heats last night. “Both haven’t done much since they last raced,” he said. “I knew they’d both need it, but it’s about peaking for the final. “Majestic Cruiser basically did…

By Adam Hamilton The trademark Tony Herlihy cheeky grin was back at Ballarat last night. That’s because normal programming resumed and his stable star Bolt For Brilliance put a testing few weeks behind him to easily win his opening round Inter Dominion heat. The win saw his Grand Final odds tumble from $2.60 to $2. There wasn’t anything special about the win, but it was simply the fact he showed he was over his setback and had settled well in Victoria. The race changed when Sundons Courage crossed favourite Majestuoso…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Brett Gray is hoping Betta Watch Out can keep her undefeated record intact at Addington Raceway on Sunday as she prepares for a tilt at the Group 1 Ace Of Diamonds (1980m) next week. The two-year-old daughter of He’s Watching has won both of her starts to date in Southland and Gray is looking forward to testing his filly against some northern opposition in Christchurch in the Aces ‘All In’ 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace (1980m). “She has had a couple of nice wins. It…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Geraldine today.    

By Jonny Turner Got You Covered will freefall down in grade and land in his happy place on Saturday. The grass track specialist will attempt to add another grass track feature to his already impressive resume when starting in the Geraldine Cup at Orari. Though Got You Covered takes on a stellar line up in the staying test, he does step back in class given he mixed it with Australasia’s best pacers in his last start in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington. After copping a horror gate in barrier…

After much discussion it’s been decided the upcoming Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup will be run as a handicap race, with a back mark of 20 metres. Just how the 3200 metre feature would be run has been a major talking point since it was confirmed it would have Group 1 status from this year. It was a Group 3 previously. “It’s good news,” says Invercargill Harness Racing Club President Craig Heyrick, “the local trainers will be happy as the Cup’s a big focal point for them.” “Southern…