Category: Harness

By Adam Hamilton  The barrier draws haven’t been kind to the Kiwis chasing feature race success at Cranbourne on Saturday night. In the feature, the $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup, Don’t Stop Dreaming drew wide on the front row (gate six), while Tact McLeod drew the back (nine). Making it worse, defending champion Leap To Fame drew superbly in gate two and will be a $1.10 favourite to bounce back from his narrow defeat in last Saturday night’s Hunter Cup. Tact McLeod will trail through behind Leap To Fame at…

Significant changes have been approved to all three of next year’s Young Gun Finals at Alexandra Park. It’s been agreed that the Delightful Lady Classic for the 2YO Fillies and the North Island 2YO Trot Series Final will join the Cardigan Bay Stakes for 2YO Colts and Geldings in being worth $100,000. Previously they were at $70,000 and $50,000. All three series in 2026 will also see a change in dates. The Cardigan Bay Stakes and the Delightful Lady Classic will move from their May slot this year to Friday,…

By Michael Guerin The Australian exclamation mark could be coming at the HRNZ annual awards in Christchurch this Saturday night. That is when the industry celebrates the good and the great of 2024. The night will feature a huge roll call of equine talent to honour as well as some of the people who make the industry tick and while it is always a special night it could be even more so for any Australians who make the trip across the Tasman. This year Australian-trained horses are eligible for age…

By Mike Love  A “peach” of a drive by Harrison Orange helped  Blenheim trainer Tony Thomas and his mare Boudica take out the DTS Hawera Cup at Hawera yesterday.  “It was good. She tries so hard every time she races,” said Thomas. Boudica settled back of midfield early from their 10 metre handicap. Orange then elected to move around the field with eyes on the lead at the 1200m. From there the pair staved off all challengers, holding on to win by one length. “We were pretty stiff on the…

By Adam Hamilton  Auckland Cup winner Republican Party is heading home after his fantastic third in the Hunter Cup. But compatriots Tact McLeod and Don’t Stop Dreaming will stay in Victoria to clash with Leap To Fame again in next Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup. Trainer Cran Dalgety also planned to tackle Cranbourne, but admitted Republican Party “certainly felt” his brave and close-up third to Swayzee and Leap To Fame in record smashing time. “It’s really the first time in his career he’s pulled-up a bit shagged, as…

By Jonny Turner  Homebush Lad helped trainer Greg Hope join an elite group to have trained 1000 New Zealand winners with his Temuka Transport Waikouaiti Cup victory at Oamaru yesterday. Hope brought up the milestone when Torvi took out yesterday’s finale, the McLellan Freight Ltd Trot, to complete a winning treble for the horseman, who trains in partnership with wife, Nina. The Hopes ended the Oamaru meeting with 892 career victories, with Greg having prepared 108 winners before entering into an official training partnership with Nina. The couple’s son Ben…

By Jonny Turner  There’s one factor within the control of Commander Ben’s camp and one outside of it as the pacer looks to cap his strong recent placings with a Temuka Transport Waikouaiti Pacers Cup victory at Oamaru today. The five-year-old is in for a rematch with One Change after his third placing in the recent Northern Southland Cup at Ascot Park for trainers Brent and Tim White.  The pair will clash with in-form pacers Piccadilly Pete, Tempo Warrior and Tabasco in a competitive 3000m grass track feature at Oamaru…

Today marks the start of Harness Racing New Zealand’s annual Team Teal campaign. It’s the eighth year it’s been run, with the focus firmly on raising awareness about ovarian cancer and raising money for research. From February 1 to March 16, money will be raised every time a female driver wins a race in this country. A total of $100 will be donated by HRNZ and individual clubs for each win. The most successful year so far was 2023 when there were 75 wins by female drivers (all wearing their…

By Mike Love  Crystal Hackett will be looking to continue her good form in the cart on day two of the Hawera meeting on Sunday after driving three winners on the first day.  Hackett’s winners on day one were Aradne, Herb, and Kourtney Kardash – with the latter being the only of the trio she will reunite with in Race 6, the Revital Fertilisers Taranaki Cup Mobile Pace.  The five-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare, trained by Shane Butcher, has hit a purple patch of form – looking for four wins on…

By Michael Guerin Showmethetanlines was more than just a super impressive debut winner at Addington on Friday night. He was living proof of the money that can be made by getting on the front foot with early season two-year-old racing. The first two-year-old race of the season saw trainer Ross Houghton provide the trifecta, two them owned by Dancingonmoonlight Farm, where he trains his horses. The winner was way, way too good, bolting in by four lengths with a 57.9 second last 800m to suggest this won’t be his last…