By Michael Guerin Merlin faces an old threat and a new one in the Ashburton Flying Stakes today but co-trainer Scott Phelan isn’t worried about either. The northern star has been New Zealand’s best pacer this year and looks the biggest local threat to Aussie champion Leap To Fame in the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington in 15 days. The latter confirmed his NZ trip with an effortless win at Menangle on Saturday night and now he is coming to the Cup it looks like only Merlin…
Category: Harness
“Larry” locked in for New Zealand Cup
By Adam Hamilton Addington, here we come. Leap To Fame locked in his first trip across the ditch for the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with a dominant win at Menangle last night. It was everything trainer-driver Grant Dixon and owner Kevin Seymour hoped for after his recent health scare. “You couldn’t ask for more. He won well, did it easily, ran a quick time and came through it really well,” Seymour said. “We’re off the NZ Cup now and can’t wait to get there. “It’s race we’ve been…
Green with many each way chances at Tuapeka
By Jonny Turner Betting on green looks like a very workable strategy for Tuapeka Lodge Tuapeka Cup Day. Kirstin Green starts seven horses at Ascot Park on Sunday and each one of them appears to have genuine eachway claims. Among the trainer-driver’s strong team is Emily who ran a very creditable fifth in last weekend’s Group Three Dark Horse Trot. After handling her toughest test well, the mare is ready to fire again this week. “She seems to have come through that run well, hopefully she can take advantage of…
Pinseeker heavily favoured to bounce back in Sunday’s Tuapeka Cup
By Jonny Turner Harness racing fans can expect the real Pinseeker to stand up in the Tuapeka Lodge Tuapeka Cup on Sunday. The brilliant pacer comes into the Ascot feature on the back of two disappointing efforts going by the extremely high standards he had set himself in just nine prior starts. He will start a red hot favourite ($2.05FF). While there may appear to be some doubt as to exactly where Pinseeker is at in his current preparation, trainer-driver Jonny Cox doesn’t share any of those concerns. “He is…
HRNZ Breeder and Owner of the month – September
Every month HRNZ picks at random an owner and breeder of the month. The only proviso is that their horse must have won a race during the month. September’s winners were Jason Lissette as owner of the month. He’s part of the syndicate that race Iron Brigade who won at Cambridge on September 3 while the breeder of the month was Price Bloodstock (Katrina and John Price) after Republican Party’s win in the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru High profile Winton-based breeders the Prices had a double celebration on the day…
Magic Monday Lift-Out
Ashburton’s “Magic Monday” is one of the most eagerly anticipated meetings of the year so we have produced a lift out that contains a number of stories, selections and other information to help you enjoy the day. You can access it here
The Trials Report – October 25
Who’s been impressing at the trials and workouts all over the country over the past week? Winton Harness Workouts- Friday 18 October Race 1- Wild East (2g Always B Miki- Bay Jet) Tr- LB Pearson Had a couple of starts earlier in the year in pretty hot two-year-old fields and was having second preparatory run back today. Worked his way to the front for driver Brent Barclay before taking the trail behind Shezabettorgirl (Brett Gray), and wore the leader down in the shadow’s of the post (neither driven out). They…
Big Friday night for Arna Donnelly
It’s Friday night and Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly has some key runners at both Alexandra Park and Addington. And she looks to have some good chances at both meetings. Inter island assault from Donnelly stable By Michael Guerin Tonight is what trainer Arna Donnelly hoped her training career would look like. Once known as the Cambridge horsewoman who improved other people’s cast-offs, Donnelly is now one of the most respected trainers in the New Zealand harness racing industry. Tonight she has some of the best horses competing at both Addington…
Ester Lucy – there are “more wins in her”
By Mike Love Kaikoura trainer David Broadhurst was rewarded for trekking south when Ester Lucy scored an impressive maiden victory in the Book Your Christmas Party With Us At Addington yesterday. Driven by Ross Houghton, Ester Lucy began well to secure the trail, receiving an economical trip throughout. Houghton then opted to angle the four-year- old Bettors Creek mare around pacemaker General Rebeck to swoop by and run away with the prize, scoring by two and a half lengths and buzzing home in a final 400m of 27.5. “I broke…
Todd Macfarlane’s new job – “all the best were beginners once”
Todd Macfarlane has seen a bit in his time in harness racing, and now is looking forward to imparting some of that knowledge to the next generation. He’s just taken up a new part-time role with Harness Racing New Zealand supporting youngsters, mainly cadets and junior drivers, in Auckland and the Waikato. “I just want to support what Roddy’s doing and help out where I can.” Roddy Butt was employed earlier this year as HRNZ’s new Development Co-Ordinator, based in Canterbury. Macfarlane says nurturing young talent is the key to…