Author: NZHarnessNews

Welcome to the last trials report for 2023. We will be back early next year, assessing form from around the country.  The Rangiora trials Tuesday 12th DecemberWeather Raining Track Easy / Slushy Moose Morowski (2g Art Major – Minnie Moose) The Todd-trained runner trailed fourth of four but in a well strung out group in miserable conditions, let loose 500m out to lead turning in, ran clear in straight, officially by 6 1/2L at the line . MR:2:08.4, 800m in 62.8, 400m in 31.1. His dam won eight and won…

Top Kiwi junior Sarah O’Reilly has gone from first equal to second equal after the latest heats in the 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships (AYDC) in Queensland. Her best result on night two of the championships at Redcliffe last night was a third in the sixth heat with Connies Spirit to have 45 points overall. That makes her second equal with Joshua Gallagher, who had a  good night with two wins, in heats four and six. Angus Garrard won the fifth heat with Gosling In Flight and is a clear…

By Brigette Solomon Variety was the key at last night’s meeting at Manawatu, with eight different trainers taking out the eight races. That was in big contrast to just two days earlier when the father-son training-driving combo of Michael and Wilson House had dominated with five wins on the eight-race programme. The card opened with the Jay Abernethy-trained Eagle Hanover trotting to a comfortable win in the Doug Bradley Painting Handicap Trot. The three-year-old filly showed good manners and driver Sailesh Abernethy, who scored a driving double, capitalized on the…

By Michael Guerin Visiting horseman Bob Butt has declared war on red hot favourite Aardie’s Express in the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park tonight. Butt admits it is a war he and stable star Manhattan may not win but he’d rather find out than surrender the 2200m mobile Group 1. Manhattan has been a constant force in some of the biggest mare’s races around Australasia but was clearly outpointed by Aardie’s Express and runner-up Lady Of The Light in the Breeders Stakes, the lead-up last Friday…

By Jonny Turner A training masterclass at Winton yesterday propelled Nathan Williamson to what may prove to be an unassailable lead in the Southland trainers premiership. Williamson enjoyed his most successful day as a trainer yet, producing five winners while guiding them all to victory from the sulky, too. “I’ve trained and driven four of my home ones before, but never this many, so it is a real thrill to win this many in one day,” the trainer-driver said. The swag of winners came with a nice bonus, they took…

By Adam Hamilton Champion driver Chris Alford certainly isn’t conceding this Inter Dominion trotting final to defending champion Just Believe. Alford, who teams up with star Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida (gate five), remains very positive despite drawing outside Just Believe (four). “He’s been fantastic Just Believe, he’s absolutely flying, and he’ll be hard to beat,” he said. “But all things being equal, I still think I’m a good chance of beating him. “The mare has got better each run through the series and ‘Lil’ (trainer Brent Lilley) says she’s been…