Author: NZHarnessNews

Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club hosts its annual meeting on the grass at Otaki Racecourse today with the first of seven races getting underway at 11:27am. Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson will be backing up their runners from Tuesday’s meeting at Wairarapa and Gaz Man joins the team for the Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup Handicap Trot. “The horses all performed well on Tuesday and providing they handle backing up they all look to be good each way chances” says Ferguson. Challenger is the first to line up for the Rogerson/Ferguson…

Jonny Turner’s  selections for Roxburgh .   Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112:24pm 7 Poetry In Motion6 Myla5 Wolfenstein3 Forty Wives Race 212:49pm 3 Shandon Bells2 Dem Bones Dem Bones9 Judicate5 Eyre I Will Race 31:14pm 3 Sherwood Maggie1 Scruffy6 La Moth9 Mayson Shard Race 41:50pm 2 Rosie Richter6 Robyns Art5 Cold Pursuit7 Robyn X Race 52:23pm 8 Tayla Me5 Alibi2 Franco Tim7 Asian Elvis Race 62:59pm 5 Grubscrew1 Sassy Art10 Threebeersdeep Race 73:35pm 1 Aardie B Miki2 First Light5 Addison Marie7 Major Envy   Race 84:14pm…

Selections for Westport       Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Justin EvansCommentator   Race 111:26pm  3 Prince Miki7 Challenger1 Conor McGregor9 Sheza Mermaid Race 211:48pm 10 Avenger5 Carbon1 Onetangi Girl6 Sharkntatties Race 312:10pm 5 Maleficence3 Cote D’Azure9 Luka Doncic12 Call Security Race 412:33pm 9 Amelia Rose10 Santanna Mach1 Private Eye4 Greater Good Race 512:57pm 2 Cassius Clay2 Medina Magic1 Katies Princess5 Smokinhotcheddar Race 61:21pm 14 Gaz Man9 Ngauruhoe11 Manchester In Time5 Kiss My Pixel Race 71:42pm 6 Village Rebel5 Mr Kaplan4 Warloch1 Artful Living  

by Jonny Turner It was a case of no reins, no worries for Craig Ferguson as Smokin Bandar sped to victory in free-for-all company at Omakau yesterday. Ferguson dropped his right rein onto his dustsheet for all of a few milliseconds as his flashy grey powered along the passing lane to score. The error came after the rein got caught in Smokin Bandar’s tale, and it was enough to see Ferguson cop plenty of friendly ribbing from his fellow drivers. But through it, the reinsman kept his sense of humour.…

by Mike Love Eyrewell Forest trainer Trevor Grant had a very happy start to the new year when he owned, trained and drove George Eliot took out the maiden trot at Rangiora on new years day. “We had a great day all around really,” said Grant. George Eliot settled 4 back the fence for Grant, before popping out at the 1200m to sit parked. George Eliot then outmuscled her rivals, drawing away to win impressively by 4 lengths from One El. “One I got around to sit parked, which she…

  The 20 metre handicap was no trouble for the Village Rebel in the Connie Stewart NZSIR Wairarapa Cup at Tauherenikau today. “I was absolutely thrilled for his owners Alan and Lyn Messenger, they have been big supporters of mine for years” says trainer Nicky Chilcott. “I didn’t think today would be his day with the race being only 2000 metres” says Chilcott “The Otaki Cup over 3000 metres on Thursday was our main target as he is a good stayer.” Patiently driven by Sailesh Abernethy, Village Rebel stepped away…

by Gayleen MacKinnon The Kidz Kartz Franklin Cup certainly made for an exciting New Year’s Eve at Alexandra Park. Despite wet conditions turning the track to slushy, young competitors showcased their determination and skills in abundance. The first place was claimed by Zoe Smith from Taranaki, who expertly steered her drive Nightmare to victory. Zoe, only fourteen years old, has been involved with Kidz Kartz for three years now since she attended a Taranaki Kidz Kartz open day with her family. This race marked Zoe’s debut at Alexandra Park –…

by Bridget Solomon The North Island welcomes in the New Year with grass track racing at Tauherenikau Racecourse tomorrow featuring the Connie Stewart NZSIR Wairarapa Cup Handicap Pace. From their Auckland base, Steve and Amanda Telfer bring five horses to the meeting with some good form behind them. Prince Miki is the first of the Telfer runners in Race 1, the Homegrown Butcher, Deli & Pantry Mobile Pace over 2000m. The three year old gelding was 2nd behind Yourdoinamazinsweety on debut at Alexandra Park on the 15th December when finishing…

by Jonny Turner Tim Williams hopes he can be on the right side of the battle of tactics set to play out in the Group Three Central Otago Cup at Omakau on Tuesday. The reinsman knows he will need to be on his game in the first Group race of 2024 when he combines with the talented Ohoka Connor. Ohoka Connor is precariously placed in the small but select field for Omakau’s big annual feature, having drawn outside a last start Group One winner in American Me despite being a…

Canterbury reinsman Ben Hope capped off his junior drivers career in style with Homebush Lad winning the Reefton cup and creating harness racing history on December 30th. He joins the open driver ranks from today and will be looking to begin that part of his career well with a decent book of drives at Rangiora. Hope wrapped up his junior career with 223 wins and over $2.8 million in stakes, including four Group One’s behind superstar trotter Muscle Mountain for parents Greg & Nina Hope. “The junior career has been…