Author: NZHarnessNews

By Brigette Solomon Only recently back from a stint in Australia, Josh Dickie reined a double at Cambridge Raceway yesterday. Both winners were trained by Dickie’s new employers, Steve and Amanda Telfer, the first being Slots in Race 3. The three-year-old colt by Sweet Lou was too good for his rivals powering away to win by a margin of three and a quarter lengths. From his starting draw of seven, Dickie allowed the gelding to work around to the lead and from there he never looked like being beaten. A…

by Jonny Turner Da Vinci’s sizzling speed set up a Wyndham whitewash in the Cromwell Cup on Saturday. The pacer sealed an outstanding result for breeder-owners Paul and Brendan Duffy and trainer Craig Ferguson when holding out his half-sister and stablemate Nutcracker who chased gamely along the inner. In front of a bumper crowd at a meeting hosted by the Wyndham Harness Racing Club, with plenty of friends and family in attendance, vice-president Brendan Duffy had plenty to be proud after the one-three finish. “I’m probably especially proud of Nutcracker,…

Tonight’s meeting is Cambridge Raceway’s first of the New Year and Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid has three runners engaged who have exhibited potential. “All three are nice horses and whatever they do tomorrow, all will improve on” says Reid. First starter Predator, driven by Zachary Butcher, and Gimmesomelovin, driven by Matthew White, line up in Race 2, The Summer of Racing 7-29th Jan @CR Mobile Pace. “Gimmesomelovin was great first up and his work has really improved since his workout prior to Christmas” says Reid “Predator has shown a lot…

Prebbleton trainer John McDermott completed his best personal season as a trainer in 2023 and will look to continue that form at Banks Peninsula Sunday. McDermott trained 13 winners in 2023 and has so far amassed over $770,000 in stakes throughout his training career. “It was very satisfying! I’d be happy to do as well again this coming season.” McDermott will line up five runners at today’s meeting. In race 3 I Spy Diamonds will be looking for her maiden win after some solid placings on the coast circuit, and…

by Mike Love The Seddon Summer Trotting series, an initiative led by the Seddon Harness Racing Group with support from Harness Racing New Zealand, is beginning to heat up. After the coast circuit Boy’s Invasion and Anna’s Boy hold the throne each on 12 points, with Masterly breathing down their necks on 11 points. At the end of the series the connections of the horse with the most points will get a bonus of $10,000, with $3,000 for second and $2,000 for third. Points for each race is allocated as…

by Jonny Turner The stars look to be aligning for Got You Covered ahead of the Cromwell Cup on Saturday. The pacer gets back on his favoured grass surface while attempting to add another grass track feature to his impressive record when he starts from a 10m handicap in the summer feature. Got You Covered will link up with the Invercargill Cup-winning reinswoman Sarah O’Reilly, with regular driver Samantha Ottley teaming up with race rival Deny Everything. The combination of O’Reilly and trainer Brent and Tim White took out the…

The best of the best will be crowned at the 2023 season NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards at Addington on Monday, 19 February. There will be 16 age-group awards – eight each for the pacers and trotters. The Trotter and Pacer of the Year will then square off for the ultimate accolade – Horse of the Year. Here is the list of all the age group contenders Tickets to the awards will be on sale within the next two weeks

by Jonny Turner Maui delivered a big thrill for the McCormick family when running to a deserved win in the feature trot at yesterday’s Roxburgh Cup meeting.  The brilliantly consistent squaregaiter did enough to hold out the late challenge of runner-up Vertigo to seal a father and son quinella for trainers and drivers David and Lawrence McCormick. While David took top honours in the family’s great result, he resisted the chance to make full use of the bragging rights he had over his son following his victory. Instead, the Canterbury…

Ngauruhoe won the Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup today at Otaki giving trainer Michael House his third consecutive win of the Cup. Driven today by House’s son Wilson, Ngauruhoe started off 30 metres and stepped away well to settle well back one off the fence. With 800 left to travel, the tiring Cashem forced House three wide and from there he progressed and hit the front with 200 metres to run. The gelding fought on well when challenged by the 2nd placed Slainte to take the win by a head. “His…

The locals look a good chance of getting their hands on the silverware with tomorrow’s Peters Genetics Roxburgh Cup looking wide-open. Handicaps, formlines, and the nature of the tight-turning Roxburgh track are set to combine to make an enthralling edition of the 2700m feature. In a wide-open affair, Central Otago owners Bill and Pauline Bain and Karen Peters get their shot at taking home the Roxburgh Cup with their pacer Wattlebank Arnie. The pacer comes into the time-honoured event after producing a strong fifth placing when taking on a stronger…