Category: Meeting Previews

THE ASCENT and THE VELOCITY take shape

NZHarnessNews

The final pieces have now been found for the two new $500,000 slot races on Show Day at Addington Raceway. In both the Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT and the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY 10 trotters and 10 pacers have been nominated, meaning that unless something unexpected happens those horses will contest the two races on Friday, November 18. Most of the horses had already been confirmed. In THE ASCENT Look To Da Stars, trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon, is the 10th and last trotter to…

Aussies top final rankings for IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup

NZHarnessNews

It’s Australian pacers one-two-and three in this week’s final IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings. It’s been a turbulent week with on-going uncertainty about whether the champion Leap To Fame would cross the Tasman and then the sudden re-emergence of defending champion Swayzee, after his connections made the late payment of $28,750. Both, it now seems, will take their place at Addington in the $1m feature next Tuesday. Swayzee, as defending champion, is the top ranked horse ahead of Leap To Fame with Auckland Cup winner Just Believe third.  Mo’unga…

It’s all go for Larry’s New Zealand Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Leap To Fame’s New Zealand Cup raid is back on target. Owner Kevin Seymour confirmed a much-anticipated blood test came back all-clear today. “It’s a huge weight off our shoulders. It’s been a stressful few days,” he said. “The blood test was the missing piece. Grant (Dixon) couldn’t fault the horse, but we simply wouldn’t travel with him unless his bloods were good. “They came back at lunchtime and it was great news. We’re full steam ahead again now.” The pleasing blood results capped a big day…

Mo’unga’s connections ponder start in IRT New Zealand Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Now that the main job is done Regan Todd will have a think about the far bigger job. But don’t be surprised to see Alabar Kaikoura Cup winner Mo’unga in next Tuesday’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup after a drama-filled day in the lead-up to the iconic race. The Cup market was already in the shadow of the will-he, won’t-he come story of Leap To Fame, something that will be finalized after blood test results on Tuesday afternoon. Then came the left-field stunner that defending champion…

Doody gets off to hot start at Manawatu

NZHarnessNews

By Brigette Solomon  It was a cracking start to the day for local Palmerston North trainer Stephen Doody who took out the first two races of today’s Manawatu meeting. “It was a good day, they all went pretty well and a couple should be well placed for next week after today’s runs,” said Doody. In the first event of the day Doody trained and drove Johnny Who to win the Matt Hickey Club Patron Handicap Trot over 2500 metres. “He’s gone pretty good today and it helped that a few…

10 out of 10 performance from Mo’unga at Kaikoura

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  For a horse named after an All Black first five, Mo’unga produced a 10 out of 10 performance in this afternoon’s Alabar Kaikoura Cup. The Bettor’s Delight five-year-old made it nine wins from just 21 starts and put himself  very much in the frame for a IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup call up at Addington Raceway next Tuesday. Trained by Regan Todd and driven by Robbie Close, Mo’unga started well and went to the lead before getting the perfect trail behind Tact McLeod.…

Mystic Max wins South Bay Trotters Cup again

NZHarnessNews

Mystic Max has gone back-to-back in the day’s feature trot at Kaikoura. The Michael Purdon owned and trained five-year old led soon after the start of the Group 3 $60,000 White Morph South Bay Trotters Cup Handicap Trot and never seriously looked in danger of being run down. “He’s jogged it,” said commentator Matt Cross as Mystic Max won the Cup for the second year in a row. It was his ninth win in 41 starts. Remarkably Mystic Max’s last win was the in the same race last year.  He…

Swayzee poised to defend NZ Cup crown

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  In the most extraordinary of twists, star Aussie pacer Swayzee is set to return to defend his $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup crown at Addington next Tuesday. Uncertainty over long-time favourite and Swayzee’s half-brother Leap To Fame’s trip, prompted the stunning change of plans by trainer Jason Grimson. Grimson confirmed he and owner Mick Boots would make the required $NZ28,500 late entry fee for Swayzee before cut-off time for the final acceptance payment tomorrow (Tuesday). Adding to the theatre, Swayzee will race in the $60,000 Cherry…

Michael Hay back driving after 10 year break

NZHarnessNews

A Monday double-header will get this week’s harness racing action underway, with the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup meeting now only eight days away. Always a critical lead-up to Addington, the second day of the Kaikoura meeting features the Group 3 White Morph South Bay Trotters Cup (3.53pm) and the Group 2 Alabar Kaikoura Cup (5.12pm). Both are worth $60,000. Manawatu will also hold a mini meeting today with its six race programme starting at 12.55pm. It’s the first of four meetings during the month. On Tuesday, November 19  the…

Another twist in Leap To Fame’s New Zealand Cup bid

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame is still a huge chance of contesting Tuesday week’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway despite a shock twist to his trip yesterday. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon said he was “almost fully packed and ready to go” when a precautionary blood test showed Leap To Fame’s levels weren’t quite right. “I was surprised, shocked even,” Dixon said. “He’d gone so well at Menangle last Saturday night winning and everything seemed good this week. “I just thought I’d take a…