Category: Punting

By Michael Guerin Trotting training supremo Phil Williamson has just retired his best ever trotter but he has a new apple of his eye in at Alexandra Park tonight. Williamson’s multiple Group 1 winner Majestic Man has run his last race after 105 starts for 24 wins and $855,545 in stakes. His new trotting excitement machine Empire City has an awfully long way to go to get to Majestic Man’s level but she has started her career on the right trajectory with five wins from seven starts and winning juvenile…

By Michael Guerin Driver Bob Butt says Bet N Win is ready to confirm what so many have thought about him for a while at Addington tonight. “I am sure he is an open class horse in the making,” says Butt, who will partner the four-year-old in the Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Aged Trot. “And I think he is ready to show it fresh up.” Bet N Win has the stride of a good horse for trainers David and Stacey White but hasn’t raced since a huge Alexandra Park win…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.   

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Two of Australia’s most successful drivers are about to go from the bright lights of Cambridge to the green green grass of Methven. Chris Alford and Greg Sugars will be Team Australia in the ANZAC 1800+ Series at Mt Harding on Sunday and will go head to head with two hometown heroes in Ricky May and Maurice McKendry. Both have strong Mid Canterbury links, McKendry was born and raised there before moving north to Auckland while May is a local through and through.…

By Jonny Turner The chance to take his hometown’s biggest piece of harness racing silverware awaits Jonny Cox at Winton on Saturday. Cox will return to his home patch with his exciting pacer Pinseeker who has the Winton Cup in his sights. If the trainer-driver’s raid from his base in Canterbury can be successful, it will mean a lot to him. “I always love getting back to Winton,” Cox said. “It is obviously where I grew up and learned how to drive.” “I always love coming back home, I still…

by Jonny Turner The proven and the unknown will clash in the inaugural running of the Group 2 Entain Two-Year-Old Fillies Stakes at Winton on Saturday. Southland’s newest group race, which comes courtesy of the new operators of the New Zealand TAB, is part of a bigger and richer than ever Winton Cup Day. It is also the first Group race to be held at Winton in its more than 100 year history. Forever Dream is set to start a warm favourite after putting the Group 2 Leonard Memorial Stakes…

By Michael Guerin Nathan Jack has already sprung the biggest tactical shock of the trotting season but don’t be surprised if he doubles down in the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge tonight. The first ever trot slot race in this part of the world has drawn one of the strongest fields in decades and is dominated by Victorians, who have not only drawn barriers 1-4 but occupy the top three places in the market. The standout and obvious favourite is two-time Inter Dominion hero Just Believe and all things being…

Racing journalist and presenter Michael Guerin’s five plays for Cambridge’s Night of Champions tonight. 1: The big one, The $1m Race by Grins. Don’t Stop Dreaming (R9, No.2) has more ways to win this race than his rivals and less ways to lose it. The $2 available is a fair price because if he leads he should win and even sitting in the running line he is the one to beat. 2: The other big one, the $600,000 TAB Trot. Callmethebreeze (R6, No.4) isn’t as safe a bet as Just…

Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for their Cambridge Night of Champions special.  

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  A brand new series targeted towards lower-rated, older pacers kicks off at Addington tonight. Called the Canterbury Plains Challenge Series, it is designed for 5YO and older pacers rated R35 to R39. Tonight’s first heat (8.56pm) features a capacity 14-strong field. “The idea was first proposed by Addington Raceway and after some analysis, discussion and wrangling we have come up with this,” says Harness Racing New Zealand’s handicapper Andrew Morris, “and so far the concept looks to have been well received.” There will…