Author: NZHarnessNews

The shadow fields have now been decided for three key Group 1s during IRT New Zealand Cup and Show Week at Addington. The last heats for the Woodlands 2YO Colts and Geldings Sires’ Stakes, the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2YO Sires’ Stakes Fillies and the Nevele R Stud 50 Years of Success 3YO Fillies series were held at Ashburton on Labour Day (Monday, October 23). Cold Chisel’s victory in the 2YO Colts and Geldings heat sealed him a place in the final on IRT New Zealand Cup day on Tuesday, November 14,…

By Michael Guerin Two imposing victories less than 24 hours apart have left the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup feeling like a two-horse race. Of course it isn’t. The $750,000 Cup at Addington on November 14 will probably have its usual 15 starters but punters may now only have eyes for two. Many of those eyes will be on Akuta, who backed up his Flying Stakes win at Ashburton last Monday with an effortless stroll around to win the Alabar Kaikoura Cup. Akuta was cautiously away but was expertly handled…

By Michael Guerin Northern pacer Old Town Road is good at something he probably has no right to be good at. Whether that is enough to win today’s $60,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup could come down to the manners and tactics of his key rivals. Today’s 2400m standing start feature looms as a huge pointer to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 14 as it pits Old Town Road against Akuta for the first time this campaign, with Self Assured among their opponents as he looks to regain something like…

Now that many of the very best horses are coming out to play we are regularly updating what’s happening at the trials right around the country. Here’s the latest installment. Wyndham Workouts Sunday 29th OctoberWeather Fine Track Fast Macandrew Navigator (5g Sir Lincoln – Arts Mistress) The Douglas trained runner settled back in the six horse field, improved three wide 500m out to take issue, kept up strong run under his own steam to just miss outfinishing Pay Me Speedy who had all favours along the markers. MR:2:03.1, 800m in…

The Katie Cox fund is now at $130,000 after a massive response from within and outside the harness racing community. The talented and respected trainer-driver, who is 33, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. A charitable trust was set up to help her with her medical and other expenses, and the response has been incredible. In the following Facebook post she thanks everyone who has supported her. To Everyone, Just wanted to say a massive thank you to each and every person (clubs, trainers, owners, drivers…

By Adam Hamilton Look out Akuta. That’s what many were saying at Menangle after Australia’s leading New Zealand Cup contender Swayzee blitzed his rivals again over the weekend. Swayzee stretched his unbeaten record for Jason Grimson to eight races when he worked to the front and roared away from his rivals to beat stablemate Nerano by 10.1m. Driver Cam Hart looked to have plenty left in the tank and he blazed a 1min52.6sec last mile of the 2400m, including closing splits of 54.4 and 27.3sec. “That’s how he felt in the…

By Adam Hamilton Kiwi filly High Step kept up a family tradition in the $50,000 Group 2 Redwood Classic at Maryborough. Her dam, High Gait, won Australia’s most prestigious juvenile trotting classic in 2015. While Mark Purdon trained and drove High Gait to victory, Greg Sugars took the reins for Purdon and his son, Nathan, yesterday. The was effectively over after 100m when High Step began very quickly from the standing start and ran to the lead, while main dangers Kyvalley Michael and Maoris Mac both made early mistakes and…

 Matt Cross makes his selections for Kaikoura today.                   Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Matt CrossCommentator Race 13.35pm  7 Murano9 Boyz Invasion4 Who’s Queen3 Ginas Majesty  Race 23.55pm 3 Westar Milly7 Zsa Zoe2 Sinner Cool4 Izia  Race 34.15pm 4 Rosie Richter8 Carmelite6 Almighty Clever9 Miley Ace  Race 44.35pm 7 Fergalicious2 Judine8 Hayley’s Meddle5 Wriggles Rufus  Race 54.55pm 10 Casino Action4 Moonlite Dream1 Adesanya5 Obsession  Race 65.15pm 7 Our Shangri Lana5 What A Minx6 Cyren Shard9 Mon Lancome  Race 75.37pm 9 Head Em…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Being dual gaited isn’t anything unusual these days. You only have to think about horses like Take After Me, who’s had 124 starts as a pacer and 213 as a trotter, with 19 wins from his total 337 starts. But what Outamyway is attempting at Kaikoura over the next few days is a bit out of the box. The Love You five-year-old will front up in the R46-55 Precut Construction Mobile Pace for the junior drivers on Sunday, and then back it up…