Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The big boys of harness racing are ready to return to the races judging by some satisfied trainers at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday. Which means the Addington meeting on Friday week will boast the strongest line ups of the spring so far in both the pacing and trotting ranks. Sundees Son was the first of the huge names out on Wednesday and he pleased driver John Dunn by easily overcoming his 40m handicap to win the 2600m main trot in 3:23.3, the last 800m in 59…

By Jonny Turner It’s Williamson versus Purdon at the top of the market for the Canterbury Spa and Pool Group 3 Sires Stakes Classique at Addington tonight. Three-year-old trotting fillies will go head-to-head for a $40,000 purse with Mark Purdon to pilot the early favourite Paramount Empress. Brothers Nathan, Matthew and Brad Williamson take the reins behind the next three favourites with the Phil Williamson trained Majestic Love next behind them. Purdon was on fire on the Williamsons’ home patch at Oamaru last weekend, dominating the Hannon Memorial meeting. This…

by Adam Hamilton There is life in the old legs yet. Champion horseman Luke McCarthy is thrilled with how former classy Kiwi pacer Mach Shard has returned from a spell and thinks he will be a major player in Friday night’s $80,000 Group 2 Kilmore Cup (2690m). It’s a stepping-stone towards the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 8. Mach Shard hasn’t raced since a luckless finish to his Queensland Winter campaign when fourth in the Sunshine Sprint and then sixth in the Blacks A Fake on July 23.…

By Jonny Turner Star three-year-old Akuta unleashed speed and power to take a big step towards the New Zealand Cup with victory in the Hannon Memorial on Sunday. The pacer gave trainer-driver Mark Purdon a huge reason continue forward with his New Zealand Cup nomination with a narrow but emphatic win over his over rivals in the Oamaru feature. Usually a winner by much bigger margins, Akuta showed fighting qualities that could come in very handy at the business end of the hard fought New Zealand Cup in his win…

Everything you need to know heading into today’s big meeting at Oamaru.  Oamaru HRC Punting Plan – Race 1 Izia and Denver both come into race 1 after filling the minor placings behind a smart winner in their last outings. Izia was very professional, stepping straight to the front and if she were to do that again she’d be hard to catch. Denver stormed home late and if he were to be handier today, he’d be a big winning hope. Cosmic Angel is a very genuine type who must be…

By Jonny Turner How quickly the big guns can get away from the standing start tapes could be the crucial factor in Sunday’s Hannon Memorial. Their big race records have Akuta, Krug, Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy installed the clear-cut top-four picks in the Group Three Oamaru feature. Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy head into the event with a distinct advantage over their two main counterparts in that they are both noted standing start flyers. Alta Wiseguy skipped away initially first up at Addington last week, before quickly regaining his…

By Michael Guerin He’s a $1.90 favourite on the fixed odds but champion trainer Mark Purdon has a word of warning for punters as Akuta prepares to take the step into open class. The sensational three-year-old pacer will take on established elite level pacers in Krug, Alta Wiseguy and Pembrook Playboy in the $30,000 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday. How he performs on Sunday and in his next two starts may well determine whether Akuta will be given his chance in the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on…

The Oamaru Harness Racing Club has continued to provide all of the information punters need ahead of the huge Placemakers Hannon Memorial meeting on Sunday. Following interviews with Mark Purdon and Cran Dalgety, the Oamaru HRC Facebook page features more chats with leading trainers and drivers who have key runners entered in our feature races. Racing journalist Jonny Turner caught up Tim Williams to discuss the progress of Alta Wiseguy who goes into the Hannon Memorial second up on the back of a big win in the New Brighton Cup.…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Progeny of sires with a service fee less than $7,000 will get their moment in the sun at Addington Raceway on Friday. The Listed Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes ‘Harness 7000’ Mobile Pace (1980m) has attracted a field of nine, and trainer Rodger Austin is hoping he has a leading contender with Donmaro. The three-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance has been in fine form this season, winning four of his seven starts and was runner-up at Addington Raceway earlier this month when resuming. Austin,…

Journalist Michael Guerin casts his eye over a busy few days for harness racing, including Oamaru’s mega day on Sunday, and finds five things not to miss.  1: Placemakers Hannon Memorial, Oamaru on Sunday: Story lines aplenty because Akuta could win and tightened further in IRT NZ Cup market or he could be unplaced (highly unlikely) and his Cup dream falter. But we also see the return of the pride of the south in Pembrook Playboy and Krug, who has had the rugged introductory season most pacers needs in open…