By Adam Hamilton Kiwis are likely to see champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame in the flesh earlier than expected. The six-year-old heads to a title defence in the $1m Miracle Mile at his next run on Saturday week, then the focus switches to the $1m Race by Betcha at Cambridge on April 4. But owner Kevin Seymour said it was “most likely” Leap To Fame would have a lead-up run at Cambridge in the $60,000 Group 2 Waikato Flying Mile on March 28. “Grant will start locking down plans…
Category: Harness
Youngster upstages the “superstars” at Ultimate Driver Challenge
By Adam Hamilton Kiwi young gun Carter Dalgety was among the first to congratulate his Queensland contemporary Angus Garrard after his historic win in the inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Challenge at Albion Park. Dalgety and Garrard shared a bond as the two “babies” at just 21 in the stellar 10-driver line-up in the first series of its kind, run across 20 races and two nights. “I know Angus and I were blown away just being part of it against all these superstars, people we’ve looked up … winning it must…
Dance Till Dawn too strong in Ashburton Cup
By Mike Love Dance Till Dawn is enjoying a purple patch of form right. Yesterday the six-year-old mare made it two wins in a row for driver John Dunn and trainers Jenna and Robert Dunn by impressively taking out the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup. “They did run along a majority of the way. I didn’t have to cover any extra ground which was lucky,” said John Dunn. Beginning well from their 10 metre handicap, Dance Till Dawn settled four back the markers and stayed there for the majority of the…
Improving Practical Magic chance to upset favourite at Cromwell
By Jonny Turner Just as her arch nemesis has disappeared, Practical Magic must contend with another smart trotter. The in-form mare heads to the second day of Cromwell’s big weekend of harness racing seeking a deserved win after four second placings. The last three of those have come at the hands of the rejuvenated Hidden Talent, who has proven to be unstoppable over the past month. While trainer Phil Williamson rates Practical Magic ($4.40) a strong hope of breaking through in Race 9, the Anderson Park Motel Handicap Trot (4.28pm)…
Doug Gale taking four to Manawatu’s new Sunday meeting
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Doug Gale has two opinions on his best of the day for Manawatu’s new twilight Sunday meeting. The Bulls trainer has four runners engaged – Call Security (R1), Stealers Wheel (R4), Whitebait Delight (R6) and Miki’s Moment (R7). “I’d say of my chances on ability it’s Stealers Wheel but from the draw it’s Call Security – a toss up between the two.” Appropriately in the first race Michael Hay will steer Call Security, who has drawn one, in the Michael Hay Stables Mobile…
Dunn still in contention heading into night two of UDC
By Adam Hamilton Dexter Dunn remains the only Kiwi connection still in contention to win the inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship (UDC) after some unexpected twists on night one at Albion Park. The first blow to the Kiwi hopes came before the first of the 20 heats in the series was run when Carter Dalgety’s best drive, Waikaka Magic, was scratched from race four on opening night. It was $1.30 favourite and a win Dalgety needed to have any real hope of being a key player. But it was another…
Wish Me Luck hard to beat in today’s Ashburton Cup
By Mike Love Wish Me Luck will be looking to continue the success of Hayden and Amanda Cullen’s brilliant start to their training partnership at Ashburton today. The five-year-old Vincent gelding is looking to go back to back in the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup over 3200m after winning the Amberley cup on Waitangi day. “He’s come through Rangiora really well. He seems bright and he’s trained on great,” said Amanda Cullen. It will be Wish Me Luck’s first attempt at the extreme distance of 3200m but that does not concern…
Change to Final qualifying for Seddon Shields series
HRNZ has approved a requested alteration to the Bob Rochford Memorial Seddon District Trotters Series. Originally it was decided that trotters would only qualify for the $30,000 Final at Addington if they had competed in four of the 10 qualifying races. The heats started at Kaikoura last November and have continued on through the top half of the South Island over the summer. There are just two heats left, at Westport and Reefton on March 7 and 9. Now HRNZ has agreed to a change to the qualifying criteria. Now,…
Flip flops help do the trick for Franco Marek
By Michael Guerin Greg Manson did something he wouldn’t usually do with Franco Marek at Addington on Thursday night but he might be doing it a bit more from now on. The way the star of his five-horse stable won wearing flip flops in the main pace, on Thursday, The Peninsular Beachfront Resort – Mooloolaba Handicap Pace, they could be the answer to the high-class pacer’s problems. Franco Marek held out Vessen after wresting the lead off him mid-race and roaring home his last 800m in 54.6 seconds, the final…
Williamson and Hopes combine with two good chances at Cromwell
By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson is itching to get into the harness racing hot seat at Cromwell on Friday. The Oamaru reinsman has received the call-up to drive two strong winning threats on the first of two days of harness racing over the weekend in Eurokash and Homebush Lad. Williamson is no stranger to wearing the Greg and Nina Hope colours but will link up with Eurokash for the first time in the feature trot, the Oakley Plumbing Supplies Handicap Tot (5.08pm) and the driver thinks he can make the…