By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Gay McClymont thought she had a chance at one placing at Addington’s big Oaks and Aces meeting last night. But in a night she’ll always cherish she ended up with two wins from two starters, with Rata taking out a Group 2 and then Styrax wrapping up the night with a comprehensive victory in the last. “I’m a bit dusty,” the Gore trainer said this morning, “but it was pretty exciting.” McClymont doesn’t just train the winning duo she co-bred and co-owns…
Category: Punting
Riley Harrison with a handy book at Banks Peninsula
By Mike Love Canterbury junior driver Riley Harrison will be looking to continue her recent run of form today in the sulky at the Akaroa meeting held at Banks Peninsula. Harrison has driven 17 winners this season – half of which have come to her in the past two months – as well as driving her first Group 1 placing last night at Addington raceway when Frazzled ran second in the Ace Of Hearts. “It’s been really good, getting on ones for the half points then being lucky enough to…
Duchess Megxit rules in Oaks
Aided by a perfect Zachary Butcher drive, Duchess Megxit has taken out tonight’s $225,000 Group 1 Tennant Engineering New Zealand Pacing Oaks at Addington. The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained daughter of Sweet Lou was positioned four back the running line from her second line draw while hot favourite Treacherous Baby, All You Need Is Me and Coastal Babe tried to dominate from the front. But at the 500 mark Duchess Megxit got a nice drag into the race behind Classic Elegance and then quickly gobbled up the field to…
Tact McLeod out of IDs
By Michael Guerin New Zealand’s sole representative at the Inter Dominion series is out because of a hoof abscess. Trainer Mark Jones was left with little choice but to scratch Tact McLeod from the series, which begins at Newcastle tonight, after he was slightly sore leaving his box this morning. “He has an abscess and it would have affected him tonight even though he could be okay in a few days,” says Jones. “So I am pretty sure that puts him out of the series which is a real shame…
New Breckon Farms complex opens after “unreal build”
By Brigette Solomon The brand new state of the art complex at Breckon Farms has been officially opened – and it’s “impressive”. Set in the heart of the Waikato at Ohaupo, Ken and Karen Breckon’s newly-completed showpiece was unveiled with friends, colleagues, and industry members this week. “We are absolutely thrilled with it, the whole process and the people involved have been incredible,” said Ken Breckon. With formalities managed by Trackside’s Greg O’Connor and HRNZ CEO Brad Steele officially opening the complex, guests were welcomed to walk through the barns…
Wallis/Hackett hold big hand in Metro Final tonight
By Brigette Solomon The Waiuku based training partnership of Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett have a strong line up of four runners in the $35,000 NZ Staff – Northern Metro Series Trotters Final at Alexandra Park tonight. “They’re all well heading into tonight’s race although we’ll need some luck to go our way” says Wallis. Starting the 2200 metre race from a 10 metre handicap, Wallis will be driving Aradne (2). The Muscle Mass mare was a winner back in September at this track and trip but has failed to…
Six Group 1s in huge Friday night
It’s Friday – and it will be all action at Addington and Auckland tonight. Six Group 1s, including the $225,000 Tennant Engineering Pacing Oaks, will be held at Addington with two Northern Metro Finals and two Country Cups headlining the night at Alexandra Park. Racing at Addington starts at 5.03pm with Auckland at 5.22pm. Re-match of the fillies in NZ Oaks By Michael Guerin Duchess Megxit may have started this month as our best pacing filly but she has both momentum and the barrier draw against her in tonight’s $200,000…
Melissa Whyte’s Group 1 Friday at Addington
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk What a Friday night Melissa Whyte is going to have. In the space of just over half an hour two trotters that she bred will race in two $100,000 Group 1s at Addington. Chester Gold (One Over Da Moon – Natives Lasting Love) will line up in Race 1, the IRT – Ace of Clubs 2YO Colts and Geldings Mobile Trot (5.02pm) while Natives Cullerdamoon (One Over Da Moon – Cullermein) is in Race 2, the Ace of Hearts 2YO Fillies (5.38pm). The…
Star filly “as good as ever” ahead of Friday’s NZ Trotting Oaks
By Adam Hamilton There are short priced favourites and then there is Keayang Zahara. The unbeaten Australian filly is at $1.04 to win Friday’s $140,000 Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Oaks at Addington Raceway (9.02pm) with Princess Sadie, Empire City and High Step all joint second favourite at $12. That she’s considered unbeatable won’t be a surprise to anyone after her eight length demolition of the field in her New Zealand debut, the Majestic Horse Floats LP THE ASCENT on Show Day, November 15. Driver Jason Lee is back in…
Trans-Tasman 2025 Yearling Sale catalogue now available
A high quality 343-lot catalogue has been assembled for NZB Standardbred’s 2025 National Yearling Sale to be held at Karaka and Canterbury Agricultural Park next summer. The refreshed sale format will see selling at Auckland on Saturday, February 15 and in Christchurch, Tuesday February 18. The condensed sale with inspection days between Auckland and Christchurch sessions allows time for travel and inspections. The New Zealand product continues to perform on major race days across Australasia, with NZB Standardbred graduates adding to the blockbuster performances in recent times. Headlined by horses…