By Adam Hamilton It now looks a real longshot Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze will head across for NZ Cup Week. The star French import is a $5 second favourite for the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot behind fellow Aussie Just Believe ($1.60). Trainer Andy Gath confirmed Callmethebreeeze would not race at Swan Hill as planned tomorrow (Friday) night. “He’s not running, but there’s some good news to that because we’ve found out what’s been causing him to trot roughly,” he said. “When he went to NZ earlier this year…
Category: Meeting Previews
Winning combo back at Winton today
By Jonny Turner After starring on the big stage, Clark Barron and Brent Barclay will try to keep their winning form going at Winton on Thursday. The training and driving combination produced one of the most impressive victories on Labour Day at Ashburton when Bring On The Muscle powered home from off the speed to win the Group 3 Hambletonian Classic. Trainer and driver knew they had always had a serious horse on their hands, but for the three-year-old to prove it in the best possible circumstances brought plenty of…
Two more names for THE ASCENT and THE VELOCITY
Two more horses, a southern trotter and a northern pacer, have been confirmed for the $500,000 slot races on Addington Raceway’s Show Day Twilight races on Friday, November 15. After a brilliant win at Ashburton on Monday, Bring On The Muscle has been confirmed as being Tumby Park’s representative in the Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT while the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Better Knuckle Up will replace stablemate Cold Chisel in the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY for slot-holder Montana Park P/L. Tumby Park is the racing…
Withdrawals force changes in this week’s Cup week rankings
Last year’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup winning trainer Jason Grimson won’t defend his title this year following the withdrawal of his two remaining contenders, Major Moth and Nerano. The pair ran way below their best in a free-for-all behind Aussie champion Leap To Fame at Menangle last Saturday night and will be freshened ahead of the up-coming NSW Inter Dominion series. Grimson had earlier ruled out defending NZ Cup champion Swayzee. Leap To Fame, a $1.55 favourite for the country’s biggest race on Tuesday November 12, will lead the…
Christian Cullen to be honoured in new 4YO Group 1 at Addington
The new $200,000 Group 1 for the four-year-old pacers at Addington Raceway on Friday, December 6 will be known as The Christian Cullen. An on-line poll was held to decide the name of the race, and it was a close run thing. There were three finalists – The Christian Cullen, The Terror To Love and The Southern Cross. Voting on HRNZ’s Facebook page closed last Friday, with The Christian Cullen edging out The Southern Cross. “Christian Cullen seems an ideal fit for this new race,” says Addington Raceway Chief Executive…
News Briefs : October 30
The first of the Aussie horses are here, a change for SENZ radio, and two NZ records at Ashburton all feature in this week’s News Briefs. The Aussies have landed The first of the Australian visitors for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week have landed. The Jess Tubbs-trained quartet of Just Believe, Better Eclipse, One Over All and He’s From Heaven were due to touch down at 8am today. Superstar trotter Just Believe will go straight to the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on Tuesday, November 12…
Chilcott goes twofer on a Tuesday
By Brigette Solomon Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott has rounded out the year’s final Trot into Tuesday meeting at her home track with a winning training double. “It was a great night, I was rapt with the horses and a few of their owners were on course to enjoy it which was awesome,” said Chilcott. Chilcott’s first winner of the night was Katies Princess who took out the Flair Junior Drivers Trophy Mobile Pace driven by stable employee and junior driver Leah Hibell. In a confident drive by Hibell, Katies Princess…
Game on! Get your bet on at Addington on Show Day
It’s time to put your money where your mouth is. On Friday November 15, Addington Raceway will host a TAB Show Day Punter of the Year Challenge. Teams of up to four people will battle it out for the ultimate betting bragging rights. Entry for each team is $600, which will go towards your betting funds, with first prize being $4000. A total of $1000 will go to second, and a $500 food and beverage voucher from Spectators Bar and Bistro at Addington will go to third. All prizes will…
Cambridge starts unusual harness racing week
An unusual harness racing week kicks off with the customary Cambridge meeting tonight, with the seven race programme starting at 5.10pm. Winton will then swing into action on Thursday before Methven and Auckland replaces the normal Auckland-Addington double act on Friday. The meeting at Mt Harding will start at 3pm. Included in the races at Alexandra Park will be the latest $16,000 Northern Metro Trotters and Pacers heats before the $35,000 Finals on November 8. The latest Finals last Friday night saw a Crystal Hackett double with Magic Dash and…
Bittersweet Ashburton Flying Stakes for Merlin’s connections
By Michael Guerin The thrill of victory was soon soured for the connections of superstar pacer Merlin at Ashburton. The magnificent pacer displayed manners, power and speed to outmuscle leader Don’t Stop Dreaming in the NZB Airfreight Flying Stakes, moving into clear second favouritism for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on November 12. But that buzz was soon replaced by concern for stablemate Cold Chisel, who pulled up with what could be a major issue in a hind leg. Cold Chisel is raced by Merlin’s owner…