Category: Meeting Previews

By Mike Love Mid Canterbury reinsman Ricky May heads to Addington today with a strong book of drives at the Coaster Howe racing stables race day. May, who sits 19th on the drivers premiership table with 22 wins so far this season, will take six drives on today’s eight race card. Monaro Meg ($10.00FF) for trainer Michael Heenan in race one the Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Steve and Di Little handicap trot kicks off May’s chances in what is an even maiden field. “I couldn’t fault her run the other…

By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson has chosen the right time to line up one of his biggest-ever teams at the races. Williamson brings nine runners south to Winton for Southland’s lucrative Winter Rewards Finals day on Saturday. While the trainer’s planning to have such a strong line up ready for such a big meeting has been pinpoint, Williamson couldn’t plan for the series of tricky barrier draws he has been handed. Even under preferential terms, the numbers haven’t exactly fallen Williamson’s way. But it may just mean the reinsman will…

By Michael Guerin An unexpected off-track victory has opened the door to what could ultimately be a new chapter in the career of outstanding junior driver Carter Dalgety. Dalgety is already one of the brightest stars in New Zealand harness racing who is also one of the fastest drivers ever to 100 wins in this country. All that, and two Group 1 wins, by the age of 21. The son of trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, Carter is always striving to improve which is one of the reasons he appplied…

By Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon’s attack on Queensland’s winter riches has slipped under the radar a bit, but he’s hoping to turn that around at Redcliffe on Saturday night. Purdon has runners in both the Oaks and Derby and is especially keen on his prospects with Major Hot in the $53,000 Group 3 Derby. The Art Major gelding, who opened his Queensland campaign with an Albion Park win on June 15, has been backed from $4.40 into $3.60 despite needing luck from an inside back row draw (gate seven). “He’s…

By Michael Guerin Being called a square isn’t usually a compliment but when Barry Purdon says it about Merlin it is meant with love. And a warning. The $1million Race by Grins winner is back to work with trainer Purdon and partner Scott Phelan, one of a trio they have being aimed at the New Zealand Cup in November. The red hot stable also have Miracle Mile runner-up Sooner The Better and unbelievable Taylor Mile/Messenger winner Mach Shard for the great race, giving them rare control over their own build-up.…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The Gavelhouse.com New Zealand Amateur Drivers’ Championships looks headed for a close finish on a cold and rainy day in Christchurch today. Just one point separates Michael House and Cheree Wigg with two races left at Addington this afternoon. Wigg, who is New Zealand’s representative at the world championships in Finland later this year, won the opening race at Cambridge on Thursday night with Midfrew Lucre, with House second with Dom Toretto. Despite being “crook all week” House then turned the tables by…

By Jonny Turner Max Hill can complete a frustrating journey back to the winner’s circle at Wyndham on Saturday. The junior driver returned to the sulky recently after a rugby injury had him on the sidelines over the past two months. Hill showed he hadn’t lost his touch with two second placings at Ascot Park last weekend. “It was a long eight or nine eight weeks out, but we are healthy now and it is great to be back out there.” It hasn’t taken the reinsman long to link up…

Selections for Wyndham today      Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.00pm  3 Hammer Down5 Hogie4 Glenkenick7 Top Pocket Chance  Race 212.25pm 10 Rakarompa13 Atalanta1 Meandmyshadow4 Ledger’s Maid  Race 312.50pm 5 Livy Desma2 Lorton Vale11 Robyns Hustler6 Hit The Lights  Race 41.20pm 5 Brookies Player6 Step It Up A Notch2 Bobbies Rock1 Jenny Gump  Race 51.47pm 6 Mad Jack5 Moment Of What7 Simone Lindenny4 KD Royalty Race 62.15pm 15 Zeke9 Black Pat7 Galleons Grandson5 Stella Bay  Race 72.50pm 1 Franco Messi3 Pounamu9 Haley Robyn10 Trail…

By Michael Guerin When you have trained the army of open class trotting stars that Paul Nairn has you don’t get carried away. So the fact Nairn thinks Tectonic can win his way to the big time makes him stand out in The Crossing Line Handicap Trot at Addington on a cold winter’s night. Nairn is widely regarded as the master of New Zealand trotting training even though he rarely has big numbers in work. It is a title that means something considering the trotting deeds over the last 20…

By Brigette Solomon With five drives at tonight’s Cambridge meeting David Butcher thinks most can feature in the top three. “Most of the horses I’m driving tonight have been racing well but they haven’t all drawn ideally to suit their abilities,” says Butcher, “so they’ll need some luck.” Butcher’s first two drives of the night are for Hunterville-based trainer Scott Dickson with Tres Bonne Fille and Ticking Over. Tres Bonne Fille starts in Race 3, the Watchu, Your Security Partner In NZ Mobile Pace over 2200 metres. The maiden three-year-old…