By Adam Hamilton High class former Kiwi colt Son Of Mac kept his unbeaten Aussie record intact with a stunning Melton victory last Friday night. Trained and driven by Kyle Marshall, Son Of Mac went straight to the front from gate two but really bowled along on his way to a 13.6m win. The mile rate was a slick 1min54.5sec, which is way above average for his grade. It compares to Captain Ravishing’s 1min51.1sec track record from the Breeders Crown final last November. “He’s got one more run at Melton…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Boudica poised to conquer at Addington
by Jonny Turner A drop in class at Addington on Sunday can help Boudica get reward for the many miles she has travelled this year. The Blenheim mare produced a tidy last start third behind American Me at the same track and she has hit the road again in the hope she can go two places better for trainer Tony Thomas. That last start effort came after the mare had been freshened and after she had raced in tougher fields and the run pleased Thomas. “I was quite happy with…
Inasinglemoment’s win on debut “pretty special”
By Michael Guerin Friday may have been Winter Rewards night at Alexandra Park but Chanelle Lawson’s reward came nearly two years ago. It just started paying dividends on Friday. Lawson is not only a well-known photographer in harness racing, including having her work regularly published by HRNZ, but she is a long-time staff member at Tony Herlihy’s stables. It was because of that loyalty and quality of work Herlihy sprung a surprise on her two years ago. “Tony pulled me aside one day and said they had two weanling fillies…
Judge Dick Hunt makes big call to retire
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk After adjudicating on around 36,000 races for over half a century, race course judge Dick Hunt’s about to make his last call. The Otaki gallops on Saturday will be his last meeting before he retires. “I’ve been involved in all three codes and I don’t think anyone’s done as long as me in this country … Keith Hatch who was before me did 33.” Now living on the Kapiti Coast, Hunt’s been involved in judging since 1972, when he began working as an…
Aint No Angel delivers brave win in Winter Rewards at Addington
by Jonny Turner The Hydroflow Winter Rewards Final at Addington on Thursday night went from disastrous to triumphant for Aint No Angel. It was a hard watch for backers of the mare who was caught wide with trainer-driver Brad Williamson for most of the first lap of the event But some assertive driving from Williamson turned his charge’s fortunes completely around as she went on to produce a great staying performance to win. “It looked like I was going to be able to slot into a really nice spot in…
Dream Of You big chance despite backmark at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Dream Of You has often looked an open class trotter in the making and he just might need to be to win at Alexandra Park tonight. The four-year-old trotter might end up being the best horse racing at tonight’s Winter Rewards meeting which sees four races boosted to $20,000 to reward those who have done the hard yards over winter. One who has done those yards more successfully than most is Dream Of You, who faces a 20m backmark in the Dean Biddlecombe Memorial, the major trot…
Big races and big rewards at Addington tonight
By Jonny Turner Trainers have their winter performers ready to take advantage of the lucrative Winter Rewards Finals on a big night of racing at Addington on Thursday night. Opawa Louie is set to start the favourite in the first of the $20,000 contests after recently moving to Aaron Swain’s barn. After taking some time to settle into his new surrounds, the pacer is on song ahead of race 3. “He seems pretty good, I have had him for about four weeks and he has just taken a bit of…
Addington Weekly : July 26
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News.
Racing community urged to get behind mental health forum
A three hour session specifically tackling mental health in the racing industry will be held at Addington Raceway next month. Called “Equiconnect” the seminar, at Addington Raceway on August 17, will canvas a number of issues relating to harness and thoroughbred racing, and more. “We want to connect with trainers, drivers, cadets, coaches – in fact anyone involved in equestrian sports,” says Equiconnect organiser and rural health mentor Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins (pictured above). “There are high stresses and strains in racing, from the pressure to make a living and to…
News Briefs – July 26
Court back in winner’s circle Best known for his New Zealand Cup winning heroics with Terror To Love, Paul Court has been back in the winner’s circle, this time in Canada where he’s lived on and off since 2008. The Court-trained Hail Christian won his 23rd race at Georgian Downs earlier this month. That took Hail Christian’s earnings past $400,000. Trained by Paul Court in this country Hail Christian won nine from 45 before heading off to Australia and then North America. Paul and his father Graham (pictured above) trained…