Author: NZHarnessNews

Vale Tony Dickinson

NZHarnessNews

Tony Dickinson, the key figure behind the “Alta” racehorses, is being remembered as a man who “loved breeding and had invaluable knowledge”. Originally from Wainuiomata, Dickinson began breeding horses after he and wife Val moved to a lifestyle block at Waiau Pa, south of Auckland, in the 1970s. They set up Alta Dream Lodge. Dickinson had earlier been involved in an aluminum joinery business. Harness Racing New Zealand records indicate he bred 89 horses, 61 of which were winners. Among his most successful were Alta Serena who had 18 wins…

Amateurs championship kicks off at Cambridge

NZHarnessNews

by Brigette Solomon It’s the amateur drivers’ time to shine at Cambridge Raceway, and Michelle Northcott for one can’t wait. Race 4 on Thursday will see the start of the 2023 New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship, where five amateur drivers from each of the North and South Islands will battle it out over three race meetings. Hamilton based Northcott is competing in the series for the fourth time. “The champs is a whole other opportunity for us that we would likely never get if we were trying to make it…

News Briefs – June 21

NZHarnessNews

Centurion ATM stock makes NZ debut The only New Zealand progeny of trotting stallion Centurion ATM has made her first appearance on the track for Pukekohe trainer Owen Gillies. The three-year-old trotting filly, Caviar Noire, took it all in her stride in her first learner workout, running her last 400m comfortably in 30.9. “She stepped nicely, trotted well, and did everything right, we will look to qualify her and hopefully head to the races” says Gillies. The filly’s ownership group includes three Gillies siblings, Jan, Gary, and Owen, alongside Grant…

Ben Hope adjusting to “same but different”

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Ben Hope is experiencing a lot of the familiar, and the unfamiliar, during his current stint across the Tasman. The talented junior driver-trainer has been in Australia for two weeks now, based at the very successful stables run by ex-pat Kiwi Brent Lilley at Bolinda, north of Melbourne. “It’s going really well, it’s a bit of a quieter period back home so I thought I’d come here and do some work experience,” says Hope, “it’s same but different.” Any thoughts he was heading…

Carlas Pixel fetching record prices – already

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Big money is flowing in for what is being described as “one of Australia’s top broodmares from one of the best families in the stud book”. Multiple Group winner Carlas Pixel, who is currently in foal to boom stallion Captaintreacherous, is currently at $150,000 on gavelhouse.com standardbred, and the auction is still two days away from closing. “We knew she was going to attract a lot of interest,” says NZB Standardbred Manager Cam Bray, “she is an absolute class act and her foal…

Peter Davis drives his 500th winner

NZHarnessNews

by Mike Love, Harness News Desk Peter Davis achieved his 500th driving win at Addington Raceway yesterday when Kink won race 4, the Belfast Vet Clinic Handicap Trot, and then wasted no time in adding to his lifetime total. “It was good. After driving the first winner you’d never expect you’d go on to drive 500!” Kink, a four-year-old Love You gelding, raced without cover for the majority of the race, before running into the lead from the 700m, holding off all challenges to win by half a neck. “He…

Just Believe finishes second in Sweden swansong

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton The trotting world certainly knows who Down Under trotter Just Believe is now. The Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars trained Inter Dominion hero may have been something of a novelty when he arrived in Sweden, but he’s heading home with some serious credibility. Locals were pleading with Sugars to stay longer in Sweden after his monstrous and second to one of the world’s best trotters in Sweden last night (Saturday). The brilliant Francesco Zet led throughout to win his 19th successive race, but Just Believe’s effort to…

Aussie News – June 18

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton The resurgence of former Kiwi star South Coast Arden continued with another impressive Menangle win on Saturday night. The six-year-old went forward from a wide draw for driver Gavin Fitzpatrick, took the lead from amazing veteran Alta Orlando and never looked in danger. In a fairly comfortable 1min51.9sec mile. South Coast Arden held-off Alta Orlando to win by 1.3m in closing splits of 54.9 and 26.8sec. High-class former Kiwi mare Braeview Kelly turned plenty of heads with a slashing third. Feature races in Queensland’s huge Constellations Carnival…

Milou poised for debut at Addington

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love, Harness News Desk Nick Le Lievre heads to Addington today with high hopes around his two chances. In race 2 Milou ($2.40FF) has her debut after showing glimpses of talent at recent trials which included a strong second to Friday night’s promising subsequent maiden winner Point Break. “She’s come through the trial really nicely. She’s been thoroughly professional. “She’s a big filly, so we’ve taken our time with her. I’m hoping she will develop into an Oaks filly later in the season. I’m expecting her to be…

Bargain buy goes back-to-back at Invercargill

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Brookies Player again showed what a bargain purchase has been when he continued his brilliantly consistent form at Ascot Park on Saturday. The four-year-old made it back-to-back victories in Invercargill when spearing along the inner to score for trainers Ross and Chris Wilson and driver Max Hill. Almost two years ago, Brookies Player arrived at the Wilson stable as an unraced two-year-old who was unable to pace. Chris Wilson purchased the horse for just $1100 from the online auction house gavelhouse.com and the pacer has returned more…