Category: Harness

By Mike Love Betterthandiva is one of a few horses looking to scrape into the final of the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series as the 10th and final heat takes place at Ashburton today. Orari trainer Lionel Dobbs, with wife Janine, are confident the six year old Betterthancheddar mare will acquit herself well today. “I think she’s ready for it”, said Janine Dobbs. “She’s been working really well and she’s come through her last run pretty good. She should be up with them today provided she gets a good run and…

By Jonny Turner Mark Jones hopes his trip to Winton on Saturday won’t be his only one this month. The Canterbury trainer brings three horses south and they’ll be in the first three races of the day, including his maiden trotter Prohibited Bid in race 3, the Mico Trot. The chance to head down for a shot at one of Southern Harness’ Gold Chip Finals was the starting point for the Jones raid. “There are not a lot of options for her at home and I like southern racing, so…

By Michael Guerin Nathan Purdon admits he doesn’t exactly know why Chase A Dream is back to his best. But he doubts he can get the exciting pacer any better than he has him for tonight’s $160,000 Garrards Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington. The three-year-old goes into the race with a chance to defend the title he won so stunningly in the two-year-old final on New Zealand Cup day, coming from last and still looked to have no chance at the top of the straight. That labelled him a potential…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Headlined by the unbeaten Rubira, the clash of the two-year-old colts and geldings will add a lot of lustre to today’s seven race midweek meeting at Addington. The $12,500 NZB National Weanling Sales Mobile Pace (6.37pm) will see the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star Rubira renew his rivalry with Always Dreaming and take on fellow race winners in the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained pairing of Got The Chocolates and Malakai. It’s also a precursor to the Group 1 $110,000 NZ Welcome Stakes at…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.   

By Michael Guerin Cold Chisel’s great run with big race draws this season has continued in Addington’s $160,000 Garrard’s Sires Stakes Final on Friday. The wonderfully consistent pacer comes up with barrier 2 in the 1980m mobile and most importantly he has drawn inside arch rival Chase A Dream, who will start from barrier 6. Cold Chisel has used good barriers to win both the Northern Derby and Alabar Classic this season and the draw gives driver Zachary Butcher all the options. Cold Chisel was a brave third to Chase…

By Mike Love The final round of heats for the Anne Thompson Graduation series will be run at the Rangiora meeting today, with West Melton trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety lining up two runners. Chicago Bear is the first cab off the rank in race 2, heat 3 for the pacers. Coming off the back of a strong debut performance at Addington on April 18, co-trainer Chrissie Dalgety is expecting big things from the Bettor’s Delight four-year-old. “We are expecting him to do very well.” “He’s come through his Addington…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson shares his thoughts on Rangiora today.    

By Jonny Turner Kirstin Green is hoping she won’t be hit with any surprises at Winton on Saturday. Green starts her Diamonds Day runner-up Summit Ultra in a maiden mile event at the Riverton meeting. After chasing home the smart Secret Agent Man, the pacer looks a huge winning threat in an even field. Green just hopes her horse’s rivals don’t throw up too many surprises in race 2, the Riverton Racing Club Mobile Pace. “He really should be winning that race, but you never know.” “Some of the others…

By Mike Love  While Auckland will host three Group 1s tonight, Addington also has a high quality race night that includes three Uncut Gems races, and a Sires’ Stakes heat. Race 6, the Garrards Sires’ Stakes Series (Heat 4) features a small but high class field, headlined by the two Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained runners, Chase A Dream ($2.60FF) and We Walk By Faith ($3.60FF). According to the Purdon Racing website We Walk By Faith’s “work has been good” and from a “handy barrier draw is a top 3 chance”…