Category: Meeting Previews

By Jonny Turner Ben Hope hopes class will take Mossdale Ben a long way in today’s Marlborough Cup Prelude. Mossdale Ben goes into the 2400m handicap with clear top billing given the elite races he has contested this spring and summer. With two strong trial efforts to warm up for his trip north, Mossdale Ben looks primed to run a big race on Friday. But Hope knows the pacer will need to call on his class to win from his 30m handicap. “He has trialled well and we are expecting…

By Michael Guerin Local trainer Jason Teaz has four horses he loves all facing the same problem at Cambridge tonight. Teaz was on a golden run with the likes of Brookies Jaffa, Noble Count and Ultimate Moment a few months ago and all three start tonight as well as a smart maiden mare in Ima Sportyangel. The problem with golden runs is they cost you ratings points and Teaz, well known as a broadcaster as well as a trainer, says his stable stars are now paying the price for the…

By Adam Hamilton Superstar pacer Akuta’s Australian trip is off and his immediate racing career is in limbo. Trainer Mark Purdon revealed his stable star injured a tendon in a training mishap on Wednesday and he fears it could be “quite serious.” “We won’t know the full extent until the swelling goes down a bit and we can get it scanned, which might be two weeks,” he said. “At this stage we’re worried it could be quite serious given the amount of swelling.” Purdon said Akuta pulled a shoe off…

Harness Racing New Zealand would like to remind everyone in the sport that last week’s draft dates calendar is just that – a draft. Since it was released there has been an outpouring of comment, and in some case strong criticism, with many believing the new calendar is set in stone. “There has been a lot of feedback from people thinking this is a done deal. It is not,” says HRNZ General Manager – Racing, Catherine McDonald. Included in the draft is the potential to have upwards of 86 more…

By Michael Guerin One of the reasons for Bolt For Brilliance’s below par spring has been revealed. After returning with a brilliant win at Alexandra Park after 10 months off the scene, the former Rowe Cup winner never hit his true peak on his southern campaign that left trainer-driver Tony Herlihy scratching his head. Bolt For Brilliance didn’t appear to be breathing well when he ran fourth in the Dominion and vet checks back in Auckland failed to diagnose why. It was only when Herlihy was able to get a…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer says he “nearly fell over” after seeing the market move on his horse Wavewatcher at Ashburton today. The Downbytheseaside four-year-old will have his 19th start in race 3, the Red Park Farm Mobile Pace. While a win has so far proved elusive Wavewatcher has been crunched from an opening quote of $11 into $4.20 on the fixed odds, with Latimer as surprised as anyone about the amount of money on his horse. “It wasn’t me,” he said. “I didn’t…

By Adam Hamilton Two of Akuta’s major Hunter Cup rivals return to racing this weekend. Recently crowned Inter Dominion champion Leap To Fame and Miracle Mile hero Catch A Wave will have their only Hunter Cup lead-up runs in different states. Leap To Fame, who has been freshened since his breathtaking Inter Dominion romp at Albion Park on December 16, returns at the same track in a 1660m free-for-all on Saturday night. While Catch A Wave, who sparkled winning a Melton trial last night (Monday), now looks set to resume…