Category: Meeting Previews

Can Swayzee go back to back in New Zealand Cup?

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The man who could win tomorrow’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup has one main question on his mind – Is Merlin better than Akuta? That could be the equation to work out who wins our greatest harness race for Australian superstar of the sulky Cam Hart, who will partner the surprise favourite Swayzee in the Cup at Addington tomorrow. The fact Swayzee is now favourite isn’t a surprise in itself as he is the defending champion and gave the locals a decent old spanking last year.…

“This is my Cup” – Jason Grimson on the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Jason Grimson isn’t short of confidence ahead of his IRT NZ Cup defence with Swayzee. Speaking on Melbourne radio SEN Track, the Menangle trainer said: “This is my Cup and I’m coming to get it again.” Grimson’s bullishness grew after Swayzee came through a seven-hour return trip to win the Cherry City Cup at Young on Friday. Today he boards a flight from Sydney to Auckland then a connector down to Christchurch. When he tackles Tuesday’s $1 million Cup, it will be less than four days since…

Grettymac delivers in style

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Leeston trainer Kim Butt and Grettymac gave her barely one week old new owners an instant thrill by winning the Barb and Kev Chapman Racing Mobile Trot at Friday’s Rangiora meeting. “I wasn’t really expecting that,” said Butt. “There’s a lot of young syndicate members including some first time owners. It’s great to get on the board early.” The five-year-old Majestic Son mare was initially pulled back from her wide draw but then sent forward after not being able to find the running line. Happy to sit…

First Light big chance for Hurrell at Wyndham

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell has four missions to complete before linking up with one of the south’s biggest chances on New Zealand Cup Day. Hurrell has four drives at Wyndham on Sunday including warm favourite First Light. The mare was only just denied in her first start for the spring when overhauled late by the very impressive Winton winner Muchacho. With several factors looking in her favour this week, First Light looks a big winning chance for Hurrell and trainer Greg Hunter. “She just blew out late in her…

Cup Week Lift-Out

NZHarnessNews

Cup Week is upon us! And we’ve got all the information you need to get involved in the fantastic week of racing Our 2024 Lift-Out includes previews from Michael Guerin, Dave Di Somma and Mike Love; fun facts, selections, full fields for Cup Day, Ashburton happenings and a Sweepstake kit for the office.  Click here

Star filly has first hit out at Addington

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  All the signs are great with glamour Aussie trotting filly Keayang Zahara ahead of her first NZ run next week. Driver Jason Lee was all smiles after taking the three-year-old for her first spin around Addington on Saturday morning, ahead of Friday’s inaugural $500,000 Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT. Keayang Zahara is unbeaten in 11 starts, five of them at Group 1 level. “It’s another box we’ve ticked-off on a trip where everything has gone to plan, maybe even a bit better than Paddy (Lee, co-trainer)…

Swayzee wins ahead of Tuesday’s NZ Cup at Addington

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  The first step of Swayzee’s extraordinary IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup title defence went without fuss when he easily won last night’s $60,000 Cherry City Cup (2887m) at Young. The race, which required a seven-hour return road trip from Swayzee’s Menangle barn, was crucial as it kept alive his quest to snare a $1 million bonus for winning all five legs of the NSW Carnival of Cups series. Swayzee won the first leg at Parkes on September 20 and last night’s race at Young was the second…

“Big dummy” wins Northern Metro Final at Alexandra Park

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Nicky Chilcott had to be kind to be cruel to Village Rebel and it finally paid off at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The five-year-old son of Raging Bull outstayed the more favoured three-year-olds Always B Elite and Hawkeye Pierce to win the TAB Northern Metro Final for the pacers, having to do it the tough way sitting parked. Trainer Chilcott says that is the best way to drive Village Rebel but she hasn’t been letting driver Sailesh Abernethy do that this campaign as she needed to…

Leap To Fame ruled out of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Champion pacer Leap To Fame’s roller coaster IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup raid is over. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon ordered one final precautionary blood test before Sunday’s planned flight from Sydney to Auckland and the news was bad. “It’s over,” Leap To Fame’s owner Kevin Seymour said, “just when we thought things were back on track, his blood is out again. It seems every time we work him hard, it flares something up. “It’s devastating. We’ve planned this trip for so long, but the horse has and always…

Leap To Fame out of NZ Cup

NZHarnessNews

BREAKING NEWS  Commanding favourite Leap To Fame is out of Tuesday’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway. The champion Australian pacer was due to arrive in Christchurch on Sunday and was at short odds to win the country’s biggest race in four days time.  But after returning unsatisfactory blood tests he has now been scratched from the Cup and will not make the trip. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.