Author: NZHarnessNews

Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Ashburton today.    

By Jonny Turner Form upgrades look on the cards for the three horses Bob Butt takes to Ashburton on Thursday. Bookmakers have kept the trio safe in betting markets with Clouding Over made the early $2.50 favourite for race 4. The filly is at that short quote on the back of a strong trial at Addington after recently joining the Butt stable. “I haven’t had her for too long, she was with Terry Chmiel and she arrived about six weeks ago,” Butt said. “I have been happy with her, she…

By Michael Guerin Aussie star Rock N Roll Doo should get his shot at Cup week redemption in the $200,000 Airpark Canterbury NZ Free-For-All at Addington on Friday. The Victoria Cup winner lost all chance with an early gallop in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, the second time he has missed away from a standing start on this trip. But he returns to a more favourable mobile start for the 1980m Group 1 on Friday and has a handy front line draw at barrier 5. While it won’t be…

This afternoon’s IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington  is considered wide open, and support has come for many different runners.  The race is set to go at 5.36pm at Addington. Some of the latest market movers have been : Copy That (8) $3.6 out to $3.8, now back to $3.6 2x $1,000 @ $3.8 3x $500 @ $3.8 2x $300 @ $3.8 $480 @ $3.6 Rock N Roll Doo (13) $6 into $5 $200 @ $6 $2,000 @ $5.5 $200 @ $5.5 $500 @ $5 $315 E/W @ $5 2x…

By Michael Guerin Punters look set to jump aboard the Copy That rollercoaster in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington today but the ride may not be too scary for a very simple reason: the race is in New Zealand. The defending champion will start favourite in the $600,000 iconic race even though today’s race is much deeper and more layered than the Cup he led and won last season. In Australian stars Rock N Roll Doo and Majestic Cruiser there are two outstanding proven Group 1 raiders,…

By Jonny Turner Rory McIlwrick will be out to continue his hot form in the sulky at Wyndham on Sunday, but whether he can do it might not be up to him. McIlwrick teams up with two horses that have a good amount of ability, but they have to be in the right mood to show it. Top Pocket Chance, who steps out in race 6, is known as a trotter with the capability of pulling off an upset when the mood strikes. The Craig Buchan trained sqauregaiter doesn’t bring…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Wyndham today.     

By Michael Guerin Tony Herlihy has been in a very forgiving mood this week but things are about to get more serious. The champion horseman was willing to forgive his stable star Bolt For Brilliance after he could manage only fifth at Kaikoura on Monday although it will mean he goes to the races on Cup Day rather than enjoying paddock life. “I think he was a run short and blew out,” says Herlihy. “He was very lackadaisical early in the race and while he made ground later I think…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Kyle Marshall took a big punt at the yearling sales last year when he paid good money for a couple of nice yearlings, and his bravery is paying off in a big way. Marshall went to $60,000 to secure Son Of Mac out of Leanach Lodge’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft and went to the same amount to buy Yogi Son out of Breckon Farms’ draft. The talented horseman is now campaigning both horses down south and has…

By Adam Hamilton Champion trainer Emma Stewart admits to still being on a learning curve with high-class former Kiwi filly Amore Vita. Stewart and partner Clayton Tonkin were entrusted with training Amore Vita when Nathan Purdon returned to NZ. At her best, Amore Vita is as good as any filly in Australia, but she has been down a shade on her best form in recent months. “She hasn’t been here long, but we really like her,” Stewart said. “Nathan said she’s been getting a bit too keen in her races…