Alice Sinclair’s Cavalcade adventures – 32 not out

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  With over 100 years between them, Alice Sinclair and Keira are a formidable combination. Earlier this month the Otago-based 89-year-old and her 13-year-old standardbred “Keira” completed the annual Cavalcade in the heart of the South Island. Organized by the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust, “cavalcaders” ride horses, wagons, or walk trails, retracing the steps of the old gold miners. For Sinclair it involved seven days of horse riding, covering around 40 kilometres a day. Crossing land that usually only musterers would see the destination, or…

Training first and the return of some familiar colours at Oamaru and Winton

A training first for Grant Milne and a welcome return to the winner’s circle for Murray Brown highlighted harness racing action at Oamaru and Winton over the weekend.  First training win for Grant Milne  By Jonny Turner  Grant Milne lived up to his pedigree when producing his first winner as a trainer at Oamaru on Sunday. Milne is a blueblood in harness racing terms given both of his grandfathers have been leading Southland trainers, while his father and uncles have produced hundreds of winners between them. Milne is the son…

HRNZ Notice – MetaboLize

New Zealand trainers are advised that the feed supplement MetaboLize has been linked to recent cases in Australia and New Zealand involving the detection of caffeine in race day samples.  The manufacturer has informed authorities that while the raw materials used in MetaboLize do not contain caffeine, they are currently investigating a possible contamination in a production run from November 2024. Certain batches from this run have been identified as potentially containing caffeine at levels that could result in a positive race day sample. Please see the attached notice here…

Cambridge-bound Aussies in great form across the Tasman

It’s been a big night for Australia’s best trotting and pacing talent. Leap To Fame, Don Hugo and The Locomotive were all among those in winning form last night as they count down to the $650,000 TAB Trot and the $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday, April 4.  A $3.30 third favourite for the TAB Trot, The Locomotive has also been confirmed as heading to Sweden to take on the iconic Elitlopp in May.  The Locomotive full steam ahead to Sweden  By Adam Hamilton …

Staying trip expected to suit Kourtney Kardash in today’s Waimate Cup

By Jonny Turner  Trainer-driver Bob Butt thinks Kourtney Kardash is made for the biggest staying test of her career. The five-year-old will be out to add to her stunning record on grass tracks when she lines up in the Whitestone Livestock Waimate Cup at Oamaru on Sunday (4.19pm).  With her outstanding grass track stats and her excellent manners in recent standing starts there only looks to be one query for Kourtney Kardash to tick off.  The mare will step up to race over 3000m for the first time, a distance…

Tabasco hot prospect in Central Southland Cup

By Jonny Turner  The timing looks perfect for Tabasco as he looks to spice up the Central Southland Cup at Winton today.  The five-year-old will back up in the 2400m feature after an unlucky fifth in the Wyndham Cup. After making a smart beginning, Tabasco was shuffled back before running on in tight quarters. The effort came in arguably the strongest field the pacer has taken on in Country Cups company and it showed he was right up with his rivals. “It was very pleasing because he did have a…

Marketplace, Stella Rouge and Don’t Stop Dreaming star on huge night at Alexandra Park

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   Everyone said he was unbeatable and that’s exactly how it turned out for Marketplace in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the 3YO Colts and Geldings at Alexandra Park on Friday night. He’s a superstar in the making and the Regan Todd-trained son of Bettor’s Delight was never really in danger of being upset. Driver Craig Ferguson bided his time early. They were three wide briefly before taking up the lead until John Dunn and Got The Chocolates took the…

Aussies having last hit-out before NZ trip

By Adam Hamilton   A big form guide to Cambridge’s Night of Champions is in Australia not New Zealand this weekend. That’s because megastars Leap To Fame, Don Hugo and The Locomotive all step out for their final lead-up races before crossing the ditch. Leap to Fame, a clear favourite for the $1m Race by betcha at Cambridge on Friday, April 4,  will start from the outside (gate six) against just five rivals in a 1660m free-for-all at Albion Park on Saturday night (11.25pm). “He needed a run so it…

Harness Million Finals feature on Friday Night Lights

It’s Friday night and the two big money Harness Million races will highlight action at Alexandra Park and Addington tonight. Boom three-year-old Marketplace will start at short odds in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the Colts and Geldings as will Stella Rouge in the $150,000 Fillies’ Final while topliners Republican Party, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Mo’unga are among the top chances in the Group 2 Auckland Co-op Taxis 300-3000 Free For All. Down south at Addington one of the must see races will be Race 8, the…

Arcee Phoenix back for TAB Trot at Cambridge

By Adam Hamilton  Classy Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix will return for another crack at the $650,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 4. Excited connections cemented a deal with Duncan McPherson to race in the Aldebaran Park slot, just as they did last year. Arcee Phoenix was one of four Victorians who contested last year’s TAB Trot, finishing fourth behind Just Believe, Callmethebreeze and Queen Elida. Queen Elida will also return, while Im Ready Jet looks likely to give Victoria a third runner this year. Im Ready…