By Adam Hamilton Auckland and Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party will chase the Group 1 Hunter Cup. Co-trainer Cran Dalgety confirmed the five-year-old would be on a flight to Melbourne on Wednesday for what will likely be a three-race Victorian campaign. Surprisingly, Dalgety said Republican Party would then return home rather than head to Sydney for a tilt at the Miracle Mile. “He’s earned a go at Melbourne. He’s taken that next step from a nice horse to one who will be competitive with the very best,” Dalgety said. “We’d…
Category: Punting
Nelson win dedicated to Denise Nyhan
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Margo Nyhan has been training winners for more than 20 years but yesterday’s victory with Knowing Me at Nelson was a stand out. It came just less than a fortnight after her mother Denise died “unexpectedly” at age 87. She suffered a stroke just before Christmas and died in Christchurch Hospital on December 29. “We tried really hard to get a win over on the Coast over Christmas time before Mum passed and we missed out but to get one yesterday was pretty special for…
Oscar Bonavena becomes 12th Australasian-bred trotting millionaire
By Michael Guerin In the end of the final push to the top of millionaire’s mountain was an easy one. It was probably always going to be for Oscar Bonavena, who had panels on his rivals in the IRT Cambridge Flying Stakes Trot at Cambridge on Thursday night. The nine-year-old was able to pull back to second last and after moving mid-race ended up in the one-one. From there the question was how big the margin would be. The answer: five-and-a-quarter lengths as he raced into the millionaire’s club without…
Orange with a host of good chances at Nelson today
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Sideshow Bruce has come a long way in a short time and today he’ll have to take another big step up. The Robert Stuart-trained Sweet Lou four-year-old has had three wins and a second in four career starts and at 7.09pm will carry local hopes in the day’s feature at Richmond Park, the $25,000 Nelson Pine Industries Nelson Cup. The country’s top driver Blair Orange will again drive Sideshow Bruce after guiding him to a winning double at Westport on Boxing Day and…
Selections | Nelson
Selections for Nelson Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Nelson Trottech Form Analyst Race 1 3.10pm 1 Copenhagen Girl2 Seaside Pond7 Stunna5 Racingmissgracie Race 23.47pm 1 Beside Me6 Miki Skipper2 Mandala3 American Blaze Race 34.23pm 4 Call Dudley6 Volstone3 Rosary5 Nellie Doyle Race 44.57pm 3 Captain Cool5 Lasa7 Itsallaboutthemoney8 Carrera Bandido Race 55.22pm 2 Just Holla8 Bondi Lustre3 Moonlite Blood6 Santanna Mach Race 65.49pm 5 Hi Hopes9 Sophia Bromac8 Social Distancing 3 Hope For Love Race 76.17pm 4 Bullit…
Bargain buy Kawhi delivers again
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Five-year-old trotter Kawhi has only been with the Keasts for a few weeks, and already he’s turning into a good buy. The Andover Hall gelding secured his second win in his last four starts, at Timaru yesterday. Purchased by Darren Keast Limited from auction site Gavelhouse in November for $8501 he has already covered his purchase price, with stakes earnings of around $10,000. “He’s a lovely horse and beautifully natured,” says Ashleigh Keast, “I think we are going to have a bit of…
The big 30 for Under Cover Lover
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk On the North Canterbury property that she bankrolled former star filly Under Cover Lover turned 30 earlier this week. “She’s in terrific order,” says Graham Pearson, “there was a time 10 years ago when she didn’t winter very well but ever since then she’s looked great.” Pearson and Jeremy Tulley bred and raced the multiple Group 1 winner who raced in Australasia and the United States, with 21 wins in 70 starts in the late 1990s – early 2000s. “She always wanted to…
“Top Horse” contenders announced for 2024 HRNZ Awards
The age group finalists have been found for the NZB Standardbred 2024 Harness Racing New Zealand awards. The “Top Horse” contenders include eight categories, for both the trotters and pacers. In some categories the finalists have been short-listed to four while in the 3YO Pacing Colts and Geldings, for instance, there are as many as nine. For the first time Australian horses who have excelled on this side of the Tasman are eligible. This year that includes the likes of Renwick Farms Dominion Trot winner Just Believe and unbeaten superstar…
Purdon pair favoured in tonight’s two Cambridge features
By Brigette Solomon Mark Purdon makes a return to race day driving with stable stars Oscar Bonavena and Don’t Stop Dreaming at Cambridge’s Flying Stakes night tonight. The Matamata-based Purdon hasn’t driven Oscar Bonavena since they ran third in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington in November behind Just Believe and the last time he drove Don’t Stop Dreaming in this country was the 2023 New Zealand Derby won by Merlin. Oscar Bonavena was a winner of the Group 3 IRT Cambridge Flying Stakes back in 2020 when it…
Holiday season turnovers up 3.4 per cent
Harness racing turnovers for the busy Christmas – New Year period have seen a more than three per cent rise on last year. Latest figures from Entain show that turnover on the 10 meetings between Cambridge on Christmas Eve and Omakau on January 2 was 3.4 per cent up on the corresponding time the previous year, with the number of individuals betting on harness racing up 5 per cent. “It’s been a good time for our sport, we’ve seen some huge crowds at places like Central Otago and Motukarara and…