Category: Punting

By Mike Love Rakaia trainer Warren Stapleton has three chances at good odds today at Addington.  In race 1, the Betavet Prepare, He’s Santas Excuse ($21.00FF) will line up for just the second time for Stapleton after things went awry last week. “He was hitting the wheels last week. So we are expecting a more improved run this week. He would be a good place bet.” He’s Santas Excuse will be driven by Warren Frost who also part owns the gelding of Net Ten EOM. Race 5, the Betavet Regumare…

By Adam Hamilton Daring to chase the riches in Queensland could still bring Group 1 glory for David and Stacey White, just not with the horse they expected. The Whites, the lone Kiwis flying the flag through this huge Queensland Constellations, had to scrap Group 1 plans with their top young trotter Bet N Win due to a cruelly-timed hoof abscess. Enter their new stable addition Major Hot. The fact they were spending a chunk of time in Queensland with Bet N Win, saw Major Hot transferred to them from…

By Brigette Solomon  Junior driver Crystal Hackett has three promising drives at Alexandra Park, all for her parents, Waiuku based trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett. “All three of the horses are nice each way chances,” says Hackett, “they’ve all been racing well but they meet fairly level fields tonight.” The first of the series races is Race 5, The Woodlands Stud Winter Rewards Final Handicap Trot over 2700 metres, in which Hackett drives Magic Dash who starts off a 20 metre handicap. “I’ll be looking to drive Magic Dash…

By Mike Love It is winter rewards time again. It’s a concept that was developed in recent seasons to accommodate low to mid range horses. Tonight there’ll be five races at Addington and four at Alexandra Park, each worth $25,000. One trainer that has supported meetings up and down the country is Prebbleton trainer Michael House. Tonight he will be represented by seven horses across four finals at Addington. House will line up Boyz Invasion ($26.00FF) in race 4, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Winter Rewards Final for the…

By Adam Hamilton The $1m IRT NZ Trotting Cup is still more than three months away, but one of the most defining lead-up races is just days away. Defending champion Swayzee, Aussie champ Leap To Fame and Swayzee’s stablemates Nerano and District Attorney could all be at Addington on the second Tuesday in November. That quartet headlines a strong and fascinating $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m) at Albion Park on Saturday night (10.41pm). Leap To Fame is a commanding $2 favourite in current markets for the NZ Cup,…

By Adam Hamilton Luck as much as talent could decide if champion pacer Leap To Fame wins Saturday night’s $400,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park (2680m). As great as the five-year-old is, Leap To Fame’s lack of early speed makes barrier one tricky. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon conceded it was one of two barriers he didn’t want – one or eight (inside the back row). “He’s getting off the gate better all the time, but there’s a couple of really quick ones drawn outside him,” he said. Noted…

The indicative fields are out for Friday’s 2024 North of the Waitaki Winter Rewards at Addington Raceway. The final fields will be published tomorrow. To see the indicative fields click here

By Mike Love  A half brother to open class pacer Beach Ball will be among Sheree Tomlinson’s five drives at Addington today. The winner of 17 races this season so far, Tomlinson looks to have a number of good drives, with Bannockburn the last of them in race 7 (4.00pm). Kicking off Tomlinson’s day in race 1, the Original Sin Mobile Pace, will be Big Mama Morris ($8.00FF) for trainer Amber Lethaby. She looks likely to get a soft trip on the markers, drawn one the second line, following out…

By Brigette Solomon  Tony Herlihy’s barn will be heavily supported at Cambridge tonight, and stable foreman Tony Cameron thinks they are all each way prospects. “Of the three in tonight I’m driving The Revenant and Luby Lill, while Monika Ranger drives Regal Girl,” says Cameron. The Revenant ($5.50FF) starts in Race 2, the North Island Stallion Expo – Karaka July 27 Mobile Pace over 2200 metres. The Revenant finished second on this track and trip at his last start on July 5 in a race taken out by an impressive…