Category: Punting

By Jonny Turner The draws haven’t fallen Tony Stratford’s way, but the trainer’s team is showing all the right signs ahead of their missions at Ascot Park on Thursday. Stratford brings three in-form horses to Invercargill before heading to Timaru with two more strong chances on Saturday. Outback Man will be out to make it a perfect three from three in the Stratford colours in race 8. The pacer steps up to take on his toughest test to date, but there is little reason to doubt him going by his…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  It was a day of firsts at Manawatu yesterday. In what was the latest of many successful trips north for the Canterbury-based father-son training-driving combo of Michael and Wilson House they combined for three wins with Boyz Invasion, Ask Me Lazarus and Bonney Eloise. It was Wilson’s first ever driving treble. “I’ve had a few doubles but never three before so that was nice, it was a great night.” Ask Me Lazarus also became the first progeny of the great Lazarus to win…

Butterworths buy Courageous Katie Courageous Katie, a yearling that raised $12,000 for the Katie Cox Appeal Fund, has been sold to some very high profile owners. The Creatine filly was offered up for sale by owner/breeder Gerald Cayford with all proceeds going to Cox who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. It sold on Gavelhouse last Friday for $12,000 to well-known Victorian owners Merv and Meg Butterworth of Copy That fame. The money will be used for Cox’s treatment and on-going medical expenses. Merv Butterworth says…

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

By Jonny Turner Outstanding feats had to take a back seat when Dreams Are Free produced an incredible win at Winton on Sunday. The two-year-old made headlines and sent social media into a spin with his remarkable recovery to win race 8. But there was plenty more to celebrate at the meeting, including the winning treble of popular reinsman Rory McIlwrick. McIlwrick is the right-hand man at Wayne Adams’ stable, with the pair producing two starters for two winners on Sunday. The first of those victories came with Claasee, who…

By Michael Guerin Two of the favourites for Grand Prix day at Addington on December 10 are set to miss the final major meeting of the season. And while star pacer Chase A Dream will be back next season, juvenile trotting favourite Head Em Up won’t be. Well, at least not here. The pair were among a number toward the head of the markets who will go to the spelling paddock or, in Head Em Up’s case, to Queensland. “He has been sold and already left,” said trainer Paul Nairn,…

Cambridge-based junior driver Zev Meredith’s heading south to the Manawatu confident he can add to his winning tally this season. Meredith’s enjoying his best ever season with 17 wins so far and he’s also secured a spot, along with Sarah O’Reilly and Crystal Hackett, to represent New Zealand at the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship in Queensland next month. Today he has six drives on the seven race programme, headlined by Bad Medicine and Pacing Hope. “It’s a nice book of drives and I’d be disappointed if I didn’t get a…

HRNZ would like to clarify how its leadership team will operate as Chief Executive Gary Woodham continues his recovery from a medical event. Gary is in a stable condition and continues to make progress after being hospitalised earlier this month. In his absence Mauro Barsi, a former chief executive of the Auckland Trotting Club and at Greyhound Racing NZ, will support HRNZ as Chief Operating Officer. “This is not a permanent appointment or solution,” says HRNZ Chair Phil Holden, “he is stepping in to assist HRNZ and its staff over…