Category: Harness

By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson hopes his run of success can continue at Cromwell on Friday. Williamson hasn’t just been winning on the track recently, with the trainer collecting the newcomer to training award at the New Zealand Harness Racing Awards on Monday. The Oamaru horseman is looking to cap a big week with strong results at Cromwell’s twilight card on Friday, and with many of the team who will step back out at the same track on Sunday. Deciding which Williamson runner to follow in race 5 could be…

Jonny Turner’s  selections for Gore     Race   Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.19pm 6 Classie Linc3 Takeitout1 Ideal Double5 Insarchatwist  Race 212.52pm 6 Dignify5 Wattle Hill10 Styrax3 Moment Of What  Race 31.20pm 3 Sidorova1 Vanessa Marie5 Cheer Me On2 Breeny’s Rock N Roll     Race 41.54pm 2 Superfast6 Warrior Easton8 Get Kraken4 Sly Tricks Race 52.30pm 14 Blithe5 Dem Bones Dem Bones7 Jordan Anne9 Our Superfund  Race 63.05pm 1 Smart I Am6 Foxfire Easton5 Olives Dream10 Mamma Mia  Race 73.40pm 4 Magic Sign7 Haley Robyn12 Netherton Franco9 Duke Of…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Gore.

By Jonny Turner Punters shouldn’t put much stock into Da Vinci’s winning run over summer ending ahead of the Gore Summer Cup on Sunday. A last-start seventh might not look like the typical form reference of a next-up winner but trainer-driver Craig Ferguson thinks it can be. Da Vinci ended an outstanding four-race winning spree with a last-start seventh in the Amberley Cup at Rangiora. Though beaten, getting back on the tight-turning and leader-dominated Rangiora grass surface means Da Vinci’s last-start run is best forgotten. “He seems to be in…

By Mike Love Broadfield trainers Colin and Julie DeFilippi admit luck could take them a long way with their three charges at Rangiora today. The couple will line up two of those horses in race eight the Robin and Geraldine Rangiora Classic for $30,000, with full brothers Here’s Herbie ($6.50FF, Bob Butt) and Heza Sport ($8.00FF, Samantha Ottley). Heza Sport ran a close second last week to Jimmy James Maguire in the Hororata Cup at Methven, going down by only one length. “He’s been a little bit disappointing, but last…

By Michael Guerin Harness racing’s hottest new rivalry started way before punters had even heard of pacers Cold Chisel and Chase A Dream. The pair clash again in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million at Alexandra Park tonight, the richest race on the night headlined by the sales series horses and the ideal lead-in to Sunday’s Karaka yearling sales. Cold Chisel won the two-year-old Harness Million at Addington last October but was outpointed by a sensational Chase A Dream in the Sires’ Stakes Final in November and their rivalry already…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Manawatu. 

By Brigette Solomon Local trainer Stephen Doody will have a big presence with seven starters as he tries to continue a winning run at Manawatu today. “I was happy with most of the horses’ runs on Tuesday,” says Doody, “neither of Tuesday’s winners are backing up but Johnny Who joins today’s starters.” Doody trained a winning double on Tuesday with Mr Monty and Blue Chip Lou both driven by the country’s leading driver Blair Orange. The pair team up again today with Orange engaged to drive five of Doody’s horses…

By Michael Guerin It is advantage Cold Chisel after the barrier draw for $200,000 NZBS Harness Million at Alexandra Park on Friday. The Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan-trained three-year-old has drawn the ace for the feature of the night as he tries to go back to back after winning the two-year-old version at Addington in October. If he is able to complete the double he will mirror stablemate and ownership-mate Merlin, who won them both a year ago. Making the ace draw even better for Cold Chisel is the fact arch rival…

By Brigette Solomon Manawatu hosts its first meeting of the 2024 season today and junior driver Crystal Hackett is keenly aware any personal success will also benefit the Team Teal campaign. With seven drives, Hackett, who is a Team Teal Ambassador, looks to have several chances to do so. “I’m really happy to be a part of Team Teal,” says Hackett. “It’s my second year as an ambassador and I’m really pleased to already have driven a couple winners to earn money for the campaign.” In Race 1, the Outback…