Author: NZHarnessNews

by Jonny Turner The Brent and Tim White stable rolled out another promising two-year-old at Addington on Friday night in Keto. The pacer impressed when both staying and sprinting to victory in his debut for driver Kimberly Butt. In making such a comprehensive first up win, Keto joins Shards Matrix and Commander Joe among an exciting two-year-old contingent the White stable have to aim at feature racing later in the year. “It is quite exciting with Shards Matrix and Commander Joe coming through, plus we will have Bluto, Lone Wolf…

By Jonny Turner A drop in class has True Confessions well placed at Addington on Sunday. The trotter has taken on two bigger targets recently and though she finished out of the money both times, trainer Tom Bagrie has been pleased with her efforts. After racing in a Winter Rewards Final and then the Darren DeFilippi Memorial, race 4 on Sunday looks a much easier assignment. “We chucked her in the deep end in the Darren DeFilippi and the Winter Rewards Final,” Bagrie said. “She went solid races for her,…

By Jonny Turner Runner-up efforts in their last starts has put victory in the sights of two trotters stepping out at Addington on Friday night. The Regan Todd trained Lavra Solitaire looks to be honing in on a win after placing in her first two career starts. Lavra Solitaire has been rated the early second favourite ($3.20) for race 2. Todd is hoping he can bag a win for owner Kypros Kotzikos, who owns Lavros Lodge where he trains his team. “She has been going good races, manners are the…

By Michael Guerin Reigning premiership-winning trainer Steve Telfer will try something different at Alexandra Park tonight and if he pulls it off he could dominate the programme. Telfer, who trains in partnership with his sister Amanda, already has the logical favourite in the main pace in Fernleigh Cash (R9, No.6) while he expects a far better performance from classy filly Aardiebytheseaside when she drops back in grade for race eight. “She was having her first start last week since racing only in two-year-old company and had to take on some…

The 2023/24 season gets underway today, with stakes increasing by nearly $5m. Base funding will increase by just under $3m with all races falling into one of seven categories. Funding will start at $10,500 for Provincial Low Key races to $30,000 for races during New Zealand Cup week. Clubs will decide how they allocate their base funding. Also from today two new breeders’ schemes will come into effect. The Fillies and Mares credit scheme : Each filly/mare who finishes Top 3 in a Fillies and Mares only race will receive…

By Michael Guerin Training legend Graeme Rogerson may be planning a dual-code raid on Australian Group 1 riches this spring but don’t expect his top harness horses to become best mates with galloping star Sharp N Smart. While dual-code trainers are nothing new in New Zealand and have become even more common in recent years Rogerson has taken that to a whole new level. Not only is he a 12-time NZ thoroughbred premiership winning trainer but went close to winning the harness premiership once and, now training with Dylan Ferguson,…

By Jonny Turner Robbie Holmes completed a weekend of dual code success when Kiwi Record ran to victory at Addington on Sunday. Holmes sent Kiwi Record straight to the lead in race 3 before the three-year-old fought off his challengers to score. The pacer is the third generation of winners trained and driven by Holmes for his co-owners and breeders Hamish Scott and Dr Kim Lawson. Holmes trained Kiwi Record’s dam Kiwi On Show and the pacer’s granddam, the classy mare Kiwi Ingenuity. Kiwi On Show didn’t reach the heights…