by Adam Hamilton The field for the world’s richest harness race is complete. Victorians dominant Saturday week’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka on numbers with half the 10-horse field trained in the state, headed by Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave. The other Victorians through are: Queensland Derby winner The Lost Storm, star mare Encipher, the gifted Captain Ravishing and now emerging three-year-old Captain Hammerhead. The last slot, that of John Singleton, went to the David Moran-trained Captain Hammerhead when he upstaged some older and more fancied rivals to brilliantly win last…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Bluto looms as massive chance in Kurow Cup
By Jonny Turner Don’t be surprised if Bluto has a swagger in his step ahead of the Kurow Cup at Oamaru on Sunday. The Brent and Tim White trained pacer returns from a freshen up to take on a new challenge in the 2600m feature. The three-year-old will face the standing start tapes for the first time after stepped away cleanly in a recent trial. The White camp now hope Bluto can do the same under the pressures of race day. “We had a good go with him on Thursday…
Orange finishes eighth at WDC
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk New Zealand champion Blair Orange has finished eighth at the world drivers’ championship in Europe. The fourth and final day of the championships was held in Berlin with Rick Ebbinge from the Netherlands becoming just the second driver to go back to back, joining Norway’s Ulf Thoresen in 1979 and 81. The defending champion went into the final day with a 33 point lead and held on to win by 13 points from fast finishing Canadian Doug McNair, who had two wins, a…
Harrison’s “huge thrill” with first win
By Jonny Turner Riley Harrison showed she can rate the pace when winning her first race with Outamyway at Addington on Friday night. The 22-year-old junior driver rated her trotter perfectly in front and she looked to be in full control of race 5. But Harrison admitted she had a few nerves as she set the tempo with her charge, who was a well backed favourite. “I have had never been in front before, so I was a bit nervous that I was setting the right pace.” “It was a…
Herlihy has 3YO training-driving double at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Tony Herlihy has two smart three-year-olds on his hands and he is going to let both Jethro Bodine and Bettor Heist tell him just how smart. The pair gave Herlihy a training double at Alexandra Park on Thursday night, both using gate speed to trail then the passing lane for impressive victories. For Jethro Bodine it was three wins on end while for Bettor Heist it was three of his last four, the only loss coming when he raced waywardly three starts ago. “They are both turning…
Thornley and No Matter Wat the combo to beat at Addington tonight
By Jonny Turner Olivia Thornley will get to find out how much more speed and power her favourite horse has developed at Addington on Friday night. Thornley reunites with New Zealand Oaks winner No Matter Wat who returns from a spell in race 3. Despite working at Mark and Nathan Purdon’s stable, Thornley hasn’t had a first-hand feel of how much the four-year-old might have improved with her break. “From all reports they are really happy with her trackwork,” Thornley said. “She is one that Michael Purdon’s partner Allison does…
Australians quick off the mark for NZ Cup
Nominations have only just opened and already two Australian visitors could be involved in the IRT New Zealand Cup. Multiple Group 1 winner Spirit of St Louis and Loyalist have both been nominated for the country’s premier race, at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. Spirit Of St Louis, who’s part owned by well known racing personality Trevor Casey and Otago trainer Graeme Anderson, has long been a proven top level performer and has 26 wins from 62 starts. The Sweet Lou gelding had eight wins from 19 starts in this…
Orange back to eighth at WDC
By Dave Di Somma Champion Kiwi driver Blair Orange has slipped back to eighth place heading into the last day of the world drivers’ championships in Europe. On day three in Belgium Orange had a third, a fourth, two sixths and a disqualification to be on 89 points, 50 behind runaway leader and defending champion Rick Ebbinge from the Netherlands. Orange was fourth after day two, the halfway mark. There is a close race behind Ebbinge with Australia’s Peter McMullen on 106 points, one ahead of Hanna Huygens from Belgium…
Big numbers for Wallis-Hackett and Team Telfer at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin The chances of the Wallis-Hackett stable continuing their golden Alexandra Park trotting season have increased even before tonight’s meeting begins. The perennial leading trotting stable in the north are already up to 21 trotting winners this season and will have six of the eight starters in the feature trot on Thursday. That includes Springbank Mason and All Cashed Up, both off a 40m handicap, from where they could have struggled to catch greatly-improved front marker Ilsas Son. The latter was chasing his fifth win from six starts…
NZ Cup and Show week feature race nominations now open
Addington Raceway is pleased to announce that the nominations for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and Graphite Developments Ltd / Glenys & Philip Kennard Show Day Futurity Pace are now open. The two feature races are the biggest races at Addington Raceway for the year and part of the biggest week in harness racing in Australasia. To see more information click here To see Addington Raceway’s feature race information click here