Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Kaikoura
Category: Harness
Kaikoura to launch Seddon Shields Trotting Championships
The 2024-25 Seddon Shields Trotting Championship Series, which will culminate with a $30,000 final in March, will kick off on Alabar Kaikoura Cup day on Monday, November 4. Targetting R51-70 trotters, the series will be held around the top half of the South Island between November this year and March 2025. It will be known as the Seddon Bob Rochford Memorial Trotting Series after the Kaikoura legend who died suddenly at Westport in March this year. Bob was a well-known harness racing stalwart, a former Kaikoura Trotting Club President and…
Racey Krusa overcomes adversity with Methven win
By Mike Love Racey Krusa has beaten the odds by winning the Rakaia Mid-Week Golfers Mobile Trot at Methven yesterday. The seven-year-old Peak gelding was almost retired about a year ago until owner and breeder Bruce Graham decided to opt for a wind operation. “He had a bit of a rough run there for a while, but we got it corrected about a year ago,” said Graham. “It’s one of those things where we decided to bite the bullet and do it.” “I was pleased when we saw this mile…
NZ Cup favourite Leap To Fame arriving in New Zealand this weekend
By Adam Hamilton Champion pacer Leap To Fame will have a travelling mate when he jets over to Auckland tomorrow (Sunday). Trainer Grant Dixon confirmed his underrated four-year-old Aroda will join Leap To Fame on the flight and, hopefully, in Tuesday week’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway. Aroda, a former Kiwi who boasts 13 wins from 38 starts and over $240,000, has enjoyed a terrific season. He is right on the borderline for a start in the Cup. The son of Art Major won the Group…
The New Zealand Cup – 10 years ago
It’s 10 days to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12 so why not look back at the winner of the great race 10 years ago. In 2014 it was Adore Me By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk What a New Zealand Cup it was in 2014. The build-up was dominated by Terror To Love’s quest to become the ever to win four consecutive New Zealand Cups. The aftermath was dominated by glamour mare Adore Me and her world record-breaking in 3:54.6. At…
Boisterous celebrations as Double Parked wins at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin People kept telling George Breckon he should do something to get young people involved in harness racing. So he did. And at Alexandra Park on Friday night it paid a very noisy dividend. Breckon is one of those Breckons, the oldest son of Ken and Karen of Breckon Farms fame so he has been around horses since before he was allowed to bet. The 26-year-old was constantly being told he should “get your mates involved” and having always been a go getter he was keen, he just…
More confirmed for Show Day Slot races
A raft of new horses have been confirmed for the two new slot races at Addington Raceway’s Show Day Twilight meeting on Friday, Tuesday November 15. Dreams Are Free, Coastal Babe and Renegade will take their place in the $500,000 Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY while Bounce N Beyond, Judy J and Princess Sadie have all been confirmed for the $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT. The winner of this month’s Southern Trotting Oaks, Princess Sadie replaces the Pukekohe Punter’s original selection, Cyclone Zion W. Trained by Ken…
Kaikoura Liftout
Everyone loves the racing at Kakoura’s iconic South Bay race course. So to celebrate the annual Marlborough Anniversary meetings there on Sunday and Monday we have produced a liftout with stories, selections and fields. To see the liftout click here
Paramount Kiwi’s prep for THE ASCENT kicks off at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin The much-needed next wave of New Zealand trotting may show itself at Alexandra Park tonight. But one of them has far more lucrative targets in the next six weeks while the lesser known could end up being the real deal. The New Zealand open class trotting ranks have a new heir to their throne in Bet N Win, who now looms as the biggest danger to Aussie champ Just Believe at the New Zealand Trotting Cup carnival but thankfully there are some exciting three-year-olds coming through. Two…
Telfer looking to add to week’s success at Methven
By Mike Love Timaru trainer Graeme Telfer heads to the grass at Methven on Friday looking to add more success to his week – after Szybka Lane won impressively at Ashburton on Labour Day. He will line up three runners on the grass at Mt Harding although success in Race 1, the Speight’s Trot over 1700m, may be defined as “just doing things right” when it comes to maiden trotter Silvester. “He’s a work in progress. If he trotted all the way he would be a chance,” said Graeme…