Category: Punting

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News desk Going into yesterday’s Manawatu meeting Wilson House thought he was a good show of winning at least a couple of races. He ended up driving a career high five winners and was a nose away from the perfect six wins from six drives. “It was fantastic,” House says, “I thought maybe I’d get two so I was very happy, and all the team performed so well.” In what was his best day in three seasons of driving all of House’s horses were trained…

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

By Jonny Turner After producing career highlights on Grand Prix day, a couple of local lads will be out to chase more success at Oamaru on Wednesday. In the reasonably early stages of what are sure to be stellar training careers, both Matthew Williamson and Kaleb Bublitz produced their first Group 1 placings on Sunday. Williamson’s Princess Sadie stormed home to take third in the Group 1 Ace Of Hearts, while The Merc gave a great sight while running second for Bublitz in the Group 1 Ace Of Clubs. Williamson…

Every week we look at the trials and workouts from right around the country. Who’s impressing and who looks ready to race? Wyndham Workouts Thursday 7th DecemberWeather Fine Track fast Superfast Ronnie (3c Superfast Stuart – Hazel Maud) The Brown trained trotter was solid throughout for Brent Barclay, stepping nicely and trailing two and three deep throughout, challenged leader 400m out and had little trouble getting the upper hand over the final stages. MR:2:12.8, 800m in 63.8, 400m in 31.7. The qualifying time was not electric but the dam won…

By Michael Guerin One of the last Group 1s of the season is set to have one of our shortest price favourites at pacing’s elite level all year. Because after Aardie’s Express drew seemingly perfectly at barrier 3 for the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park on Friday, she is going to dominate betting and be most people’s multi anchor. The pacing season has not been without its Group 1 hotshots, Millwood Nike being the most obvious, but Aardie’s Express will be long odds-on after she won…

By Adam Hamilton Swayzee has the draw to add the Inter Dominion final to his recent New Zealand Cup romp. Jason Grimson’s latest and best star yet had a big win in the barrier draw with gate three, compared to his half-brother and main danger, Leap To Fame in gate six. It sparked a dramatic change in betting with Swayzee firming from as much as $4.50 pre-draw into $2, while Leap To Fame eased from $1.65 to $2.60. Grimson is trying to become the first trainer in Inter Dominion history…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Mike Berger has travelled south for today’s meeting at Manawatu – and it feels like an ambush. Much to his surprise race 5 is the Happy 70th Birthday Mike Berger Mobile pace. “I didn’t know anything about it,” Berger says, “plus I didn’t want the whole world knowing how old I was!” Berger turned 70 over the weekend. “I asked whose idea it was but haven’t heard a thing as yet,” he laughs. “But it’s pretty cool. I’ve always enjoyed the…

By Jonny Turner Pulling the left rein proved to be a case of pulling the right rein for Mark Purdon in the Group One New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All at Addington on Grand Prix Day. Purdon left punters gasping with a lap to go in New Zealand’s biggest trotting sprint when he elected to stay three back on the markers with the red-hot favourite Oscar Bonavena. But those same punters were left counting their cash when Purdon shot his star trotter along the inner to claim his second big Group 1…