Author: NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Bob Butt enjoyed Group success with Gold Chain and he is now looking to replicate those results with her two-year-old son Gold Bullion at Addington Raceway on Friday. The Father Patrick gelding has tasted success in his two starts and will be out to extend that winning record in the Group 2 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes 2YO Championship Mobile Trot (1980m). “He has taken it all in his stride and he seems quite a nice horse,” Butt said. “He seems well, has been trotting…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Hidden Talent’s abilities are far from unknown as she prepares for her first tilt at elite level at Addington Raceway on Friday. The Bacardi Lindy filly has won all four of her starts to date, including the Group 3 Sires’ Stakes Classique Mobile Trot (1980m) at the Christchurch track in September. She will return to Addington on Friday where she will contest the Group 1 ‘What The Hill’ At Woodlands NZ Trotting Oaks (1980m). “I am pretty excited and hopefully she runs a good…

By Michael Guerin Neptune gave everybody in harness racing the feel-good story they wanted at Alexandra Park on Thursday night after a horror week for trainer Ray Green. The popular 77-year-old horseman, who just two weeks ago won his second New Zealand Cup with Copy That, has been in hospital since Monday when he was kicked in the stomach by a horse. Green needed a seven-hour operation and has had small sections of his colon and bowel removed, having to have a bag fixed for at least the next three…

Two highly-fancied northern stablemates are out of next month’s first ever Harness Grand Prix at Addington. Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have withdrawn both Merlin from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings and also Advance Party from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Fillies. Advance Party’s withdrawal follows her disappointing 12th in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Fillies Final on Show Day at Addington, won by the unbeaten Millwood Nike, while Merlin ran a huge fourth behind Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Woodlands…

By Adam Hamilton Tony Herlihy isn’t about to make any excuses for Bolt For Brilliance in this Inter Dominion. Sure, we all know the challenges Herlihy has faced just getting his stable star to Victoria in recent weeks, but that’s history. “I’m looking forward now,” Herlihy said. “What happened is in the past. If there was even one small thing that worried me, I wouldn’t have brought him across.” Asked how close Bolt For Brilliance is to his top heading into the series, Herlihy sounded bullish. “He’s pretty close. He…

By Jonny Turner Daniel Anderson added to his family’s legacy in Southern racing when clinching his first victory as a driver at Ascot Park yesterday. The junior driver broke through for his maiden victory in his second season on the track when Superfastsuperstar lunged late to take out yesterday’s opener. Anderson has racing in his blood, but largely through the thoroughbred code. The reinsman is the nephew of leading Southland trainer Jo-Ann Gordon and grandson of the late Jack Gordon, a prolific preparer of winners and a Grand National winning…

By Michael Guerin James Stormont is looking forward to getting his stable star back to what works for him at Alexandra Park tonight. And that could make Hey Bartender the horse to beat in the main pace on the boosted stakes night to end the month. Hey Bartender has a reputation that exceeds his rating, being tagged as a future open class horse even though he is only rated 59 and has won just three races. It is hard to hide class though and the way he won one start…

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

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News.