Butterworths buy Courageous Katie Courageous Katie, a yearling that raised $12,000 for the Katie Cox Appeal Fund, has been sold to some very high profile owners. The Creatine filly was offered up for sale by owner/breeder Gerald Cayford with all proceeds going to Cox who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. It sold on Gavelhouse last Friday for $12,000 to well-known Victorian owners Merv and Meg Butterworth of Copy That fame. The money will be used for Cox’s treatment and on-going medical expenses. Merv Butterworth says…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Ultra consistent trotter looks to go one better at Rangiora
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A tough draw and a big field won’t make it easy but Natives Inferno is well overdue to get back into the winner’s circle at Rangiora today. The four-year-old son of Love You has only won once in 16 starts but has been a model of consistency of late with three second placings in a row. Last start, at Rangiora on November 10, Natives Inferno looked the winner only to be nutted late by Mr Love, who charged home from near last. “I…
The Box Seat – November 21
Here’s this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.
McIlwrick claims treble at Winton
By Jonny Turner Outstanding feats had to take a back seat when Dreams Are Free produced an incredible win at Winton on Sunday. The two-year-old made headlines and sent social media into a spin with his remarkable recovery to win race 8. But there was plenty more to celebrate at the meeting, including the winning treble of popular reinsman Rory McIlwrick. McIlwrick is the right-hand man at Wayne Adams’ stable, with the pair producing two starters for two winners on Sunday. The first of those victories came with Claasee, who…
Two favourites to bypass Grand Prix Day
By Michael Guerin Two of the favourites for Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10 are set to miss the final major meeting of the season. And while star pacer Chase A Dream will be back next season, juvenile trotting favourite Head Em Up won’t be. Well, at least not here. The pair were among a number toward the head of the markets who will go to the spelling paddock or, in Head Em Up’s case, to Queensland. “He has been sold and already left,” said trainer Paul Nairn,…
Meredith upbeat about his Manawatu drives
Cambridge-based junior driver Zev Meredith’s heading south to the Manawatu confident he can add to his winning tally this season. Meredith’s enjoying his best ever season with 17 wins so far and he’s also secured a spot, along with Sarah O’Reilly and Crystal Hackett, to represent New Zealand at the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship in Queensland next month. Today he has six drives on the seven race programme, headlined by Bad Medicine and Pacing Hope. “It’s a nice book of drives and I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get a…
Update : HRNZ Leadership November 20
HRNZ would like to clarify how its leadership team will operate as Chief Executive Gary Woodham continues his recovery from a medical event. Gary is in a stable condition and continues to make progress after being hospitalised earlier this month. In his absence Mauro Barsi, a former chief executive of the Auckland Trotting Club and at Greyhound Racing NZ, will support HRNZ as Chief Operating Officer. “This is not a permanent appointment or solution,” says HRNZ Chair Phil Holden, “he is stepping in to assist HRNZ and its staff over…
O’Reilly, Hackett and Meredith to wear silver fern in Aussie
The all-conquering Sarah O’Reilly will once again be a part of the Kiwi challenge at the up-coming Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship in Queensland. Run in conjunction with the Inter Dominions, the AYDC will feature three nights of heats before the final at Albion Park in Brisbane on December 16. Throughout the series the winner will get a maximum of 17 points, through to one point for the driver finishing last. O’Reilly will be joined in the three-strong New Zealand team by Crystal Hackett and Zev Meredith. Hackett qualifies as the…
Behind The Breeds #6
In his latest Behind the Breeds column breeding expert Don Rae casts his eye around the trials at Manawatu, Addington and Winton. At Manawatu earlier this month (Nov 7) Scott Dickson had two qualifiers in solo heats – Dothelocomotion (3yo G Love You ex Shell Seeker) and That Maj Ya Look (2yo F Art Major ex There’s A Dancer) and there were three trotting qualifiers that sparked interest from the Addington Cup Day trials – Ready Set Jet (3yo G Quaker Jet ex Lochabelle), Idle Lilly (2yo F Majestic Son…
The latest from the trials – November 20
Pukekohe Workouts Saturday 18th NovemberWeather Raining Track Slushy Simply Sam (4g American Ideal – Simply Stunning) The Green trained runner set a leisurely pace in wet conditions then sprinted sharply last 400m to hold out open class pacer Allamericanlover who gave him 20m start. MR:2:09.2, 800m in 57.7, 400m in 27.2. Looked to be holding his more accomplished rival comfortably over final stages, the winner of seven already looks more than capable of breaking through the $100k in stakes barrier in the coming weeks Beaudiene Rocknroll (3g A Rocknroll Dance…