By Jonny Turner A powerful victory in the Hannon Memorial doesn’t necessarily mean Aardie’s Express is heading straight towards the New Zealand Cup. The Stonewall Stud mare powered along the inner to clinch victory in the traditional New Zealand Cup lead-up at Oamaru yesterday for driver Tim Williams. Despite being the veteran of just 13 starts, the four-year-old showed all of the poise and power required to be a genuine New Zealand Cup contender. But the Stonewall Stud camp, headed by trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, is not ready to…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Amore Vita gets the job done in Victoria
By Adam Hamilton Star Kiwi-owned mare Amore Vita overcame “feeling a bit flat” to grab a slice of Aussie harness history at Melton last night. The Steve Dolan owned-and-bred mare joined former stablemate Maajida to become only the second female pacer to take a clean sweep of the Vicbred series, winning the two, three and four-year-old finals. “Maybe she was a bit flat after last week, but she felt a bit doey tonight,” driver Chris Alford said, who has been aboard for all three wins. “I really had to wake…
Intriguing battle in prospect for the Hannon Memorial
By Jonny Turner Fitness levels will collide when this year’s New Zealand Cup hopefuls clash in the Group 3 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru today. The ever-evolving nature of the build-up to the New Zealand Cup will again see a big contingent of emerging horses clash with more seasoned open class performers. Up-and-comers Aardie’s Express and Anything Goes head the market for the Hannon Memorial and both bring crucial race fitness to the event. Aardie’s Express will step back into the open class fold after demolishing a lower-grade field in her…
Selections | Oamaru
Jonny Turner’s selections for Oamaru today. Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist Race 112.10pm 3 Dean James2 Whosdreamingnow7 Goorambat Art8 Heaven Race 212.38pm 2 Moses4 George Eliot11 Luvavici8 Wypout Race 31.06pm 3 Boarding Call9 Flo Motion5 Shards Fury1 Justin Fun Race 41.33pm 5 Missile7 Cody Banner6 Our Pinocchio8 Aveross Majesty Race 51.58pm 4 Double Jeopardy6 Shards Matrix2 Chase A Dream5 Spirit Of Anarchy Race 62.25pm 3 Tokyo Rose6 Aardiebytheseaside4 Treacherous Gall7 Forever Me Race 73.04pm 3 Pembrook Playboy4 Anything Goes2 Franco Norton8 Aardie’s Express…
The history of the Hannon Memorial
For 85 years the Hannon Memorial has been a fixture on the racing calendar. As well as being a key race in its right it is also plays a significant role in the build up race to the New Zealand Cup. But what do we know of the Hannon and its origins? The race is named in memory of one Michael Joseph Hannon, a dentist in Oamaru who went on to become the president of the Oamaru Trotting Club from 1921 to 1938. His interest in the sport was sparked…
Milestones for Tomlinson and Norman at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Driver Kerryn Tomlinson and trainer Brian Norman were delighted to clinch milestone victories at Ascot Park yesterday. Brian Norman was left with a temporary reminder of his 200th win at a trainer from his trotting mare Steve. Steve made the most of a drop in grade to score a penalty-free win with junior driver Oliver Kite. Steve clearly was feeling spritely after her victory as she handed Norman an accidental post-race head butt, which left him sporting a battle scar following his milestone victory. Though the trotter…
Bob bags double with young trotters at Addington
By Michael Guerin Bob Butt went to Addington with two promising trotters on Friday night and came home with the favourites for two of our biggest features for young squaregaiters. Butt trains Wilma’s Boy and Gold Bullion who both dominated their rivals from the front and looked all class doing it. Wilma’s Boy was on debut when he put nine lengths between himself and his rivals in the Renwick Farms Two-Year-Old Trot, trotting a handy 2:2.3 mile rate for the mobile 1980m. Wilma’s Boy is bred to be good, from…
Butchers star with minor upsets at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin It is rare second favourites winning feels like an upset but the Butcher boys managed to make it happen twice at Alexandra Park on Thursday night. David Butcher and his son Zachary are no strangers to winning the best races of the night in the sulky but they both did it as trainers on Thursday with Hooray Henry and Mantra Blue. Hooray Henry’s win was a career highlight as he sprinted past two-time New Zealand Cup winner Copy That in the latter’s return to racing. David Butcher…
Rankings – IRT NZ Cup & Renwick Farms Dominion Trot
The first rankings lists are out for the IRT New Zealand Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot to be held at Addington in November. In the Cup, defending champion Copy That is at number one followed by 2023 Auckland Cup winner Akuta and then Mossdale Ben and B D Joe who get in courtesy of their wins in the Cup qualifying races, the Maurice Holmes Vase and the New Brighton Cup. The only withdrawal so far is Alta Wiseguy after injury interrupted his preparation. The top 15 ranked horses…
Purdons to make their mark in Victoria on Saturday night
By Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon is confident of winning at least one Vicbred final on Saturday night’s massive 12-Melton card. Purdon and his father, Mark, have two-year-old trotting filly We Can Have It All in her $100,000 final (race 12) and The Real Sherlock in the $150,000 Group 1 3YO Pacing Colts and Geldings’ final (race six). We Can Have It All is a firming ($1.80 into $1.75) favourite after drawing the pole and Purdon said she would be “much better” than when she qualified with a second placing in…