By Adam Hamilton Australia’s champion pacer Leap To Fame is heading to New Zealand. Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour said it was no longer an if, but a when Leap To Fame crossed the ditch to chase the $1m Race by Grins at Cambridge on April 12. “The race is a target and we are well advanced in talks with slot holders,” he said. “We said a while back he wouldn’t be going to the Perth race and that New Zealand was the aim. “We’ve got a pretty clear plan in…
Category: Punting
Tom Bamford’s Blenheim double – “a ripper of a day”
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk By his own admission Tom Bamford had “a ripper of a day” at Blenheim on Sunday. The 28-year-old recorded the first training double of his career when Muscle Bank and Millwood Indie both recorded strong and definitive victories at Waterlea Raceway. That also completed a double for Muscle Bank after her win on Friday, while Millwood Indie went one better than her second behind Tokyo Rose on the first day. “Sometimes you worry about how they are going to back up, especially Muscle…
December’s breeding and ownership winners
The winners of Harness Racing New Zealand’s monthly breeder and owner awards have been decided for December. In an initiative to highlight those that help keep our sport going, HRNZ has been making the monthly awards since October last year. All owners and breeders who win a race during the month are eligible, with a random number generator selecting the two winners. December’s winners are breeder Mark Booth for Lizzie Richter’s win at Ashburton on December 21 and Shona Nairn, who is one of the owners of El Conqueror who…
Aussie News – January 21
By Adam Hamilton As the odds of champion Aussie trotter Just Believe contesting the inaugural TAB Trot at Cambridge shorten by the day, the aura around him continues to grow. The eight-year-old made it six wins from as many starts back from Sweden when he returned from a freshen-up in stunning style at Ballarat last night. Despite sitting parked in quick time, Just Believe won without being extended by 3.9m in a 1min57sec mile rate for 2200m. It was yet another arrogant display and he can only improve for the…
Double Time aiming to double up in Marlborough Cup
By Michael Guerin Two horses who each had excuses not to win the prelude race should dominate the $25,000 Cabins2U Marlborough Cup today. The second day of the two-day meeting has a logical form line leading through the almost indentical meeting on the grass on Friday. On that occasion Double Time beat Mossdale Ben in the Prelude even though both had few favours. Double Time sat parked for half the race and yet was still too strong, no small performance in this grade, but his biggest challenger Mossdale Ben undid…
Selections | Marlborough
Selections for Marlborough Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Matt Cross Commentator Race 111.47am 6 Diedre Franco12 Kowhai Summit8 Signal Hill4 Bevron Race 212.12pm 1 Melody Arden12 Fredastaire3 Rockcent2 Carrera Kahu Race 312.37pm 12 Alta Showgirl1 Miley Ace3 Honest Lies11 Chal Vee Power Race 41.02pm 13 Sarasota Sunset14 White Star Orlando9 Judine7 Vincent Vega Race 51.27pm 6 Eyre I Will3 Our Pegasus Pearl4 Bennie And The Jets2 Ali Lindenny Race 62.02pm 7 Quicksmart1 Watch That Man10 Midfrew Lucre5 On Report Race 72.37pm 10 Soviet Star3 He’s A Jackalack11…
Sam Thornley brings up 100 wins
by Jonny Turner It didn’t look great early, but the end result was perfect as Sam Thornley won his 100th race in the sulky in New Zealand at Marlborough on Friday. Muscle Bank overcame a slow beginning when producing an outstanding performance to win for Thornley and trainer Tom Bamford. Thornley was not only thrilled to bring up his milestone victory, he was impressed with his trotter’s big effort to score. “It was a big run because she missed away and she was so far from them.” “When they went…
Reid bags impressive double at Cambridge
By Michael Guerin Steven Reid produced two stunning back to back winners at Cambridge on Friday night but had an even better horse to look forward to on Saturday. The Pukekohe trainer finally got the best out of former smart age group pacer Lou Baby when he demolished a lower grade field by 17 and three-quarter lengths, one of the biggest winning margins in the north in years. As impressive as that was in may have been trumped in the very next race when debutante Next Level was well named,…
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Mossdale Ben chance at Marlborough “but it won’t be easy”
By Jonny Turner Ben Hope hopes class will take Mossdale Ben a long way in today’s Marlborough Cup Prelude. Mossdale Ben goes into the 2400m handicap with clear top billing given the elite races he has contested this spring and summer. With two strong trial efforts to warm up for his trip north, Mossdale Ben looks primed to run a big race on Friday. But Hope knows the pacer will need to call on his class to win from his 30m handicap. “He has trialled well and we are expecting…