Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Driver Ben Hope says it is time to wake Muscle Mountain up. Not that New Zealand’s most naturally-talented trotter has been sleeping on the job, just more resting a little earlier than he should judging by his latest outing at Addington. Muscle Mountain goes into today’s $40,000 What The Hill Trotter’s Sprint at Ashburton in the rare position of having been beaten last start, even more rarely by a horse coming from behind him. He made a brilliant standing start beginning to lead off a 20m handicap…

A quick chat with Olivia Thornley reveals she is hardly crumbling under the pressure ahead of one of the biggest days of her harness racing career. Thornley heads to Magic Monday at Ashburton to combine with three of the brightest stars in New Zealand in Akuta, Millwood Nike, and Oscar Bonavena. Dexter Dunn was perhaps the last junior to handle so much horsepower in one day as a junior driver. The suspension of Mark Purdon and unavailability of Natalie Rasmussen has Thornley taking centre stage behind the elite trio as…

Dreams came true when Hazer prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Tuapeka Cup at Ascot Park yesterday. With horses spread across the track, the chestnut sped along the passing lane to score a highlight victory in the careers of trainer Chris Gerken and driver Kerryn Tomlinson. Hazer is raced by the Nickels For Pickles syndicate, a name inspired by his trainer’s surname. The syndicate is made up of Gerken, wife Sonia, their four daughters Mallory, Tarryn, Kelly, and Haylea, as well as their respective partners. Though they weren’t convinced…

By Jonny Turner Robyns Playboy is primed to add to his incredible record in the Tuapeka Cup in his fifth tilt at Ascot Park on Sunday. The Ross and Chris Wilson trained pacer comes into the annual feature with a remarkable record in four previous starts, having won three Tuapeka Cups and running second in another. Chris Wilson admitted he isn’t exactly sure why Robyns Playboy loves the Tuapeka Cup so much, but he thinks the race comes at the perfect time of year for the pacer. “He just loves…

by Jonny TurnerTrainers, drivers, and administrators are rallying to encourage their peers in New Zealand harness racing to support Katie Cox in her battle against cancer. The 33-year-old Cox, who is both a highly popular figure and a highly talented horsewoman, has recently been diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer. Rural personality Craig Wiggins has formed a charitable trust in Cox’s name to help raise funds for her treatment, which includes medication that costs more than $100,000. Champion reinsman Ricky May and Bruce Taylor have joined Wiggins as…

By Michael Guerin Driving legend Ricky May says only one thing stands between Beach Ball and becoming a player on the open class scene: standing start tapes. The four-year-old produced the performance of the night at Addington on Friday night when he came from last with a surging run over the last lap to crush his opposition before the top of the straight. It was ninth win of his 34 start career and May thinks he may have gone where no other driver has before. “I’m pretty sure I am…

Ashburton Trotting Club are set for a great day of racing on Monday with their Magic Monday race day. We have created and put together a comprehensive form guide for you which includes, selections, previews and the fields. You can download it here

Top horse woman, trainer, driver and ex show jumper has been surprisingly diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer (primarily effecting young female non smokers) after going to the doctor a month ago for a cough and initially being prescribed antibiotics. Katie is only 33 years old and this has come as a shock to her and all that know her. The only option at this stage is to use the private healthcare system to access the specific targeted drugs that are having very good success overseas managing this…

By Michael Guerin The money Kourtney Kardash earned winning at Alexandra Park on Thursday night was spent before she had even made it back to the winner’s circle. Because trainer Shane Butcher and driver Monika Ranger, who owns the mare on lease, have had something even bigger to celebrate in the last week. The popular couple have bought their first house with the deal only recently finalised and while they are thrilled to get on the property ladder anybody who has their first mortgage knows, spare cash becomes a thing…

By Michael Guerin Trainer Cran Dalgety is worried about a host of tricky starting points for his team at Addington tonight. So he warns punters even though most of those he and wife Chrissie take to headquarters tonight are good enough to win they should be treated with caution. “We have copped a lot of bad draws and even have Casino Action (R4, No.11) having his first standing start, so we could have a few starting issues tonight,” says the in-form trainer. Team Dalgety begin their night with two of…