Category: Harness

by Mike Love Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan will head to Phar Lap raceway today with some solid chances, including Mighty Flying Lou in the Timaru Nursery Stakes for 2 year olds. The Sweet Lou colt kept up the lethal Laurence Hanrahan/Ricky May combination when he won on debut at Ashburton last week, and will look to go back to back today with Gerard O’Reilly in the bike, while Ricky May is sidelined through suspension. “He’s trained on well since Ashburton. But it is a nice field today,” said Hanrahan. Hanrahan…

Breeding enthusiast Don Rae continues his series of Behind the Breeds where he looks at recent qualifiers who have interesting pedigrees. In this article he looks at Millie Let Loose and Black Billie Gee. Millie Let Loose – Mount Hutt Trotting Club meeting on Sunday, 12 November. Qualifying second in her trotting heat was Millie Let Loose, a 2 year old filly by local sire Superfast Stuart from the Grant Our Wishes mare Foot Loose. Foot Loose won just the once from 36 starts; her victory came at Manawatu in…

By Jonny Turner Bargain buy Oh No Nana banked several times his purchase price for Invercargill owners Scott and Sam Leader with his victory at Ascot Park on Thursday. The four-year-old charged late to finally break his maiden in his 32nd start with driver Rory McIlwrick. Oh No Nana was in just his fifth run for the Leaders following his purchase through trainer Tyler Dewe. Dewe sourced the horse for the Invercargill owners and Thursday’s win returned them several times the horse’s purchase price. The winning stake was $5500.  “Scott…

By Michael Guerin Zachary Butcher hasn’t given up on what some might consider Mission Impossible this year. The Pukekohe star driver and occasional trainer was the proudest man to run second at Addington last week when Mantra Blue chased home champion filly Millwood Nike in the Nevele R Fillies Final in a Cup day stunner. While beaten for the first time Mantra Blue beat the others just as easily and while some of Butcher’s best drives have returned north, he is leaving his filly down there to do battle again…

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By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s been 16 years since Pukekohe trainer Dave McGowan secured his last Group 1. Back then it was One Dream winning the 2007 Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park. Now McGowan, who trains with wife Clare, is becoming increasingly confident that Lucky Mum, a winner at Rangiora on Wednesday, could do the business in the Ace of Hearts for the two-year-old trotting fillies on Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10. “It’s been a while,” he says of the gap between Group…

In a new initiative to try and upskill the country’s drivers, Harness Racing New Zealand is on the lookout for three driving tutors. “These are brand new positions and will cover the whole country, there’ll be one up north, one in Canterbury and then a third in Southland,” says HRNZ’s Education Manager Natalie Gameson. The roles will be part-time and on a 12-month fixed term contract, involving between six and 15 hours a week depending on location and workload. “What we need is experienced and passionate people to not only…

By Brigette Solomon Manawatu hosts the second of its two day meeting today and the locals will be looking for their share of the spoils. Palmerston North-based trainer-driver Stephen Doody has five horses engaged with the first two starting in Race 1, the Visit The Rugby Museum Handicap Trot over 2500m. “Mr Monty went a good race on Tuesday so he just has to do the same again and he should be a good chance,” says Doody, “and we have put removeable deafeners on Kingsclere in the hopes it might…

By Jonny Turner The draws haven’t fallen Tony Stratford’s way, but the trainer’s team is showing all the right signs ahead of their missions at Ascot Park on Thursday. Stratford brings three in-form horses to Invercargill before heading to Timaru with two more strong chances on Saturday. Outback Man will be out to make it a perfect three from three in the Stratford colours in race 8. The pacer steps up to take on his toughest test to date, but there is little reason to doubt him going by his…