by Brigette Solomon There’ll be plenty of inter-stable rivalry at Cambridge tonight, with three different trainers lining up three runners in their respective races. Nicky Chilcott has the most at the meeting with six runners, including three – Alwaysbelove, Vincents Girl, and Messenger Buoy – in Race 2, The Tote Burger Mobile Pace over 2200m. “The maidens have all raced well to date and I’ll expect all three could be in the mix” says Chilcott. Alwaysbelove was third on debut, while Vincents Girl was runner-up a fortnight ago. All three…
Author: NZHarnessNews
News Briefs – July 5
100th win for Katie Cox Katie Cox has chalked up her 100th driving success. It came with with debutant Palatable in race 4 at Addington last Friday night, only for Time Up The Hill to give her win number 101 later in the night. Both winners were trained by Michael Ward. Cox has had seven wins this year, including a Group 2 success with It’s Tough in the Welcome Stakes. The Canterbury-based Cox also has 30 wins as a trainer. Top trotters now with Team Dunn The premiership leading team…
Leah Hibell returns home after “amazing experience”
By Brigette Solomon Cambridge-based junior driver Leah Hibell has just returned from her first international adventure, enthused and inspired by what’s she seen. The 23-year-old was awarded a 10-day working holiday in Australia for winning the second annual Revell Douglas Memorial series earlier this year. The series for junior drivers is a tribute to well-respected trainer and administrator Revell Douglas, who drowned at Karioitahi Beach near Waiuku in January 2021. She spent her time at the stables of Brisbane trainers Chantal Turpin and Peter McMullen. Exciting and nerve wracking are words…
Fresh start for Hayden Cullen after leaving Stonewall
By Jonny Turner Hayden Cullen insists he is right up for the challenge of his latest harness racing venture. Just last weekend, Cullen and wife Amanda officially announced the start of their new training enterprise at West Melton. The Group 1 winning horseman recently left his position as a co-trainer at Stonewall Stud not knowing exactly where his career was heading. But Cullen has moved at lightning speed to set up his own operation, training and pre-training racehorses, as well as educating young stock. Starting a new chapter from the…
Additional $30 million in racing industry funding for 2023/24 racing season
Harness Racing New Zealand has hailed the latest TAB funding announcement as “another good news story for our sport”. TAB New Zealand today announced its direct funding to the domestic racing industry will reach a record-setting $215 million for the upcoming 2023/24 racing season. TAB NZ’s direct funding of racing is made up of a distribution payment to Racing New Zealand, the application of class 4 gaming proceeds to the Racing Authorised Purpose, and funding of the independent Racing Integrity Board. Today’s announcement sees a further $30 million made available…
Elsu dies at age 23 – “we were privileged to have him in our lives”
After earning more than two million dollars on the track, and a decade at stud, Elsu has died, at age 23. Alabar Stud says the one-time superstar pacer was diagnosed with heart disease and had to be humanely euthanized after taking a sudden health turn at Alabar in Pukekohe today. “Elsu was a part of the family here at Alabar NZ. He was such an amazing horse and we were privileged to have him in our lives,” says Alabar’s Graeme Henley. Knee problems ultimately shortened Elsu’s racing career but by…
DeFilippis hit 300 as training combo
Not one to get too carried away with his own success, Colin DeFilippi was typically low key after a milestone win at Addington yesterday. When Beaudiene Quick Step got up to narrowly win the Ox McEwan at Ryal Bush Transport Pace it marked the 300th training success for the husband and wife combo of Colin and Julie DeFilippi. “Pretty pleased,” was DeFilippi’s response. Beaudiene Quick Step settled back early then made a three wide move tracking favourite Don Juan at the 600 before going on to win by a head.…
Spirit of St Louis continues remarkable winning run
By Adam Hamilton Another win from Grand Circuit star Spirit Of St Louis headlined a big night for Team McCarthy across two states last night. Spirit Of St Louis narrowly but very impressively won the 2300m free-for-all at Menangle for driver Jack Callaghan to signal he would be a major player when he heads to Albion Park for the Group 1 double– Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake – in coming weeks. It took a brilliant Callaghan drive to land the one-one and all of Spirit Of St Louis’ class…
Aint No Angel huge chance for Williamson
by Jonny Turner Brad Williamson will be out to continue a highly successful weekend at Addington on Sunday. The Oamaru trainer-driver enjoyed an outstanding Friday, driving two winners at Winton and training another at Addington. Williamson has high hopes of training and driving another winner on Sunday. Aint No Angel looks to slot into a very winnable event in race 7. The four-year-old drops in grade after producing a solid fifth after working hard in her last outing at Addington. Slotting into barrier 1, the mare looks to be in…
Aldebaran Zeus heading stateside
By Adam Hamilton The trotting world has suddenly got a lot smaller. Fresh from Just Believe’s heroics in Sweden, another star Down Under trotter will tackle some of the world’s best in the US in September. Connections of Victoria’s multiple Group 1 winner Aldebaran Zeus have accepted an invitation to tackle some of the world’s best trotters in the $US1mil MGM Yonkers International Trot in New York on September 9. Aldebaran Zeus, who recently campaigned with mixed success in NZ, has won 18 races and almost $420,000 for trainer Brent…