Category: Punting

by Jonny Turner Drivers rallied to support their colleague Katie Cox in her battle with cancer before going on to racetrack success at Winton yesterday. Kirstin Green recently put the call out for her fellow drivers to offer their financial support to a fundraising campaign for Canterbury trainer driver Cox, who has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. A charitable trust set up to contribute to paying Cox’s medical expenses, which are set to go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, hit $55,000 in the…

By Michael Guerin Trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal don’t have to wait long for their potential new stable star to return to the races. Because just a week after their former headliner Nicholas Cage left their Cambridge stable, Northern Oaks placed filly Diamonds Are Forever returns on her home track tonight. Nicholas Cage was fast enough to defeat Akuta and Copy That (no mean feat) in the Founders Cup at Alexandra Park on March 10, a display of speed than earned him a slot in The Race by Grins. The…

By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s most accomplished young harness horsemen is returning home and straight into one of our prime driving roles. Multiple Group 1-winning trainer and driver Joshua Dickie will return early in the New Year and work at Stonewall Stud’s northern stables and assume the role of their regular North Island driver. Dickie will be accompanied by his partner Sammy Kilgour, herself a talented horseperson, who will also work for Stonewall and Steve Telfer. The 32-year-old Dickie moved to Australia two years ago and while he…

By Adam Hamilton Young Kiwi horseman Dylan Ferguson is more than confident with Lovemeto ahead of Sunday’s $75,000 Group 1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby at Maryborough. While the gelding thrashed his rivals by 31.2m in a Derby heat last Sunday, Ferguson knows the final will be a different ball game. “The other heat was much, much stronger,” he said. “I think the first three home in that other heat would all have won our heat just as impressively,” he said. “We needed to win as easily as we did to show…

Eight wins in 2023 for Muscle Mountain Muscle Mountain is now the most “winningest” horse in New Zealand this year. The star trotter took out the What The Hill Ashburton Trotters’ Sprint for the third time on Monday. It was his eighth win this year from 11 starts. He has amassed $217,650 in stakes. Millwood Nike and Bella Button are next on seven wins for the year. Meanwhile Akuta has passed $250,000 in earnings this year with his win in the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Monday. The New Zealand Cup…

Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for this week’s edition of The Box Seat. 

Behind The Breeds is a series where breeding enthusiast Don Rae takes a deep dive into the pedigree of some of today’s trotters and pacers. Under the spotlight  today is the Tony Stratford-trained two-year old Dawson, who cleared out and won his juvenile heat at the Winton Harness Racing Club Trials Meeting on Friday October 13th by eleven lengths. By Sweet Lou from Speights Girl, the ownership group comprises some well known southern identities who have also enjoyed great success with another Sweet Lou, the Grand Circuit performer Spirit of…

Now that many of the very best horses are coming out to play we are regularly updating what’s happening at the trials right around the country. Here’s the latest installment. Pukekohe Workouts Friday 20th OctoberWeather Fine Track fast Mantra Blue (3f Sweet Lou – Kamwood Blue Chip) The unbeaten filly driven by trainer Zac Butcher led for fun and kept going strongly to just hold out Kahlua Flybye (trailed 3rd of 4), with the winner looking to have plenty in reserve. MR:2:02.2., 800m in 56.2, 400m in 27.4 She now…