Category: Meeting Previews

by Brigette Solomon David Butcher is always one to follow on his home track and lines up a number of good chances at Cambridge Raceway tonight. But the Waikato-based trainer-driver is leaning more towards place chances with his runners, rather than outright winners. The first of Butcher’s starters is Changealot in Race 3, the Dunstan Salute Mobile Pace over 2200m. “He’s got a good draw so with a good trip and a bit of luck he’s a place chance” says Butcher. Romeo Foxtrot, a strong winner a fortnight ago at…

By Adam Hamilton Will there be two successful Aussie raids at Addington in less than a month? Swayzee set the tone with his powerhouse NZ Cup win on November 14, when he became just the second Aussie-trained pacer since My Lightning Blue in 1987 to win the iconic race. Now top young trotter Not As Promised gets his turn. His Queensland-based trainer Graham Dwyer already feels like a winner. Dwyer has been in New Zealand since last Thursday with Not As Promised, who is one of the favourites for Sunday’s…

By Michael Guerin Oscar Bonavena may have been handed a shot at a most unlikely Trotter of the Year title at Addington on Sunday. There wouldn’t have been a day in 2023 that Muscle Mountain hasn’t been considered our best trotter and he still is but he will now miss Sunday’s $110,000 Livamol NZ Trotting Free-For-All after a slight setback and won’t race again this year. He goes to the paddock the winner of eight of 12 starts including two Group 1s in 2023, which encapsulates the harness racing season…

Every week we look at the trials and workouts from right around the country. Who’s impressing and who looks ready to race? Pukekohe Workouts Friday 1st DecemberWeather Fine Track fast Prince Miki (2g Always B Miki – Jubilee Princess) The Telfer-trained runner got back in the five horse qualifying field, still had plenty to do 400m out, made up a ton of ground in the straight to finish third less than 3L from winner/stablemate Major Secret who led throughout. MR:2:02.2, 800m in 58.7, 400m in 29.1. His last 400m would…

By Adam Hamilton Star Kiwi-owned trotting mare Queen Elida can bounce-back from a shock opening round Brisbane Inter Dominion defeat in Tuesday’s second round of heats. Trainer Brent Lilley suspects his stable star “probably tied-up a bit” when she was surprisingly run down by emerging Victorian trotter Plymouth Chubb in the second of last Friday night’s trotting heats. Queen Elida looked all over a winning rounding the final bend when she sailed away from her rivals, but stand-in driver Cam Hart got Plymouth Chubb into clear air and he blasted…

By Jonny Turner Alabar’s gift that keeps giving delivered again when Franco Indie took out the Akaroa Cup at Motukarara on Saturday. The All Stars pacer justified his hot favouritism when adding his first victory on grass to his impressive résumé. Franco Indie has breeding giants Alabar and Nevele R Stud among its big group of owners. The two studs stand the pacer’s sire Always B Miki, and they backed the stallion by purchasing Franco Indie as a yearling. A standout two and three-year-old, the pacer now looks ready to…

By Mike Love Ohoka Connor ($2.50FF) will be looking to add to his outstanding resume today in the Methven 4 Square Supermarket Green Mile at Mt Harding racecourse. The Sunshine Beach three-year-old has been phenomenal in his short career, winning seven from his eights starts. His most recent win came on Show Day at Addington. Co-trainer Steve Telfer reports the gelding is on song going into today’s assignment. “He seems well. He’s come through that run really good,” said Telfer. Having his first start on the grass surface should not…