Category: Harness

By Michael Guerin Finally the Australian pacers get draws they can work with at Alexandra Park on Friday night. While Just Believe has dominated the major trots over the last month from handy enough draws (not that he needed them) the Australian pacing team of Speak The Truth and Better Eclipse haven’t been able to buy a draw in either the Race by Grins or the Taylor Mile last Friday. But that changes in the $110,000 Dawson Harford Messenger Pace this Friday when Speak The Truth gets barrier 1 over…

By Adam Hamilton As if facing Ladies In Red wasn’t a big enough challenge, buzz Kiwi mare Aardies Express will have to overcome a horror draw in Saturday night’s $200,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Mile at Menangle. The barrier draw totally reshaped betting on Australia’s biggest mares’ race with Ladies In Red firming from $2.50 to $1.65 after landing gate two, while Aardies Express drifted from $2.50 to $3.40 from out wide in gate 11. She’ll start from nine if the emergencies come out. Ladies In Red’s driver David…

By Mike Love  Rangiora trainer Tom Bamford will line up four runners at today’s Rangiora meeting, including stable star Rakero Rocket in the Waimakariri Businesses Rangiora Winter Cup. Bamford kicks off his chances with his 100th starter to the races in race 2 the Anne Thompson graduation series for pacers, with heat one over 2600m. In this event Rakero Chase ($26.00FF) with Gavin Smith in the sulky. “She’s getting used to racing. We can put a line through her last start, but her first start she ran home good at…

By Jonny Turner What should happen at Winton on Saturday is no guarantee. That’s hardly news for any harness racing tragic or casual follower ahead of Captainshavtime approaching her second career start. The two-year-old impressed in her debut on the same track earlier this month when running third in Group 2 company behind the highly talented Captains Mistress. That looks incredible form to bring to a maiden assignment and while trainer Brett Gray is hopeful his filly can run up to her form, he isn’t thinking Captainshavtime is a past…

Selections for Wairio today      Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.35pm  6 Scott10 Artmore5 Wehavtime7 Big Boyz Toyz  Race 21.00pm 1 Jonjondagoosehasgone6 On The Beach7 Foxing Easton10 Asta  Race 31.25pm 2 Bob Barrelit4 Stella bay8 Hennessy10 Action Packed  Race 41.52pm 3 Superfast8 Raknruin6 Robyns Hustler5 Montage  Race 52.19pm 11 Blithe12 Bring On The Muscle6 Johns Boy13 Our Pinocchio  Race 62.43pm 3 Captainshavtime6 Matau Maria12 Northview Ocean9 It’s A Pleasure  Race 73.10pm 9 On The Wing11 Bobbies Rock10 Sky Rocket7 Outback Man  Race 83.40pm  8…

By Mike Love Mid Canterbury reinsman Gerard O’Reilly could offer punters some value at tonight’s ANZAC weekend race meeting at Addington. O’Reilly steers six chances, the first of those in race 2 the Airpark Canterbury Mobile Trot, where he teams up with Bruce Negus and consistent trotter Buffy Northstains ($8.50FF). “She went nice last start. I haven’t driven her before. She’s probably my best each way chance of the night,” O’Reilly said. She’s drawn well at 5, over 1980 metres. The three favoured in the market are Judy J ($3.20FF),…

By Michael Guerin Barry Purdon has been training great horses long enough to know tonight’s $110,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile could look very good, or very bad, for Merlin after just 200m. Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan have three reps in the Group 1 sprint at Alexandra Park but most eyes will be on Merlin, the last-start $1million Race by Grins winner and maybe the best pacer in the country. Merlin has drawn one on the second line in the glamour sprint and if the horse he follows out,…

By Brigette Solomon Pukekohe based trainer Jeremy Young has just two horses entered at Thursday’s ANZAC day meeting, but he is confident both are capable of strong performances. “Both horses are well placed,” says Young, “they’ve both been working well and I’m pretty happy with both of them.” Young’s first runner for the night is Gladys Greenland who takes part in Race three, the Watchu Security Mobile Pace for Junior Drivers. The four-year-old mare by Downbytheseaside, starts fresh up from a spell over 1700 metres with Monika Ranger engaged to…

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

By Michael Guerin An almost perfect set of barrier draws has turned Friday’s $110,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile into one of the races of the season. The $110,000 sprint will highlight one of Alexandra Park’s biggest nights of the year sitting alongside feature races for almost all grades from country cups handicappers to juvenile pacers and trotters and the open class squargaiters. The latter, the $60,000 Lone Star Lyell Creek Stakes, looks a gift for Aussie hero Just Believe after his last-start victory in the $600,000 TAB Trot slot race.…