By Jonny Turner It will be a case of the calm before the storm at Ascot Park on Sunday as the harness racing nation counts down with its final meeting before the New Zealand Cup. Ryal Bush trainer Peter Hunter will head to the Invercargill track with three strong eachway chances on the 10-race card. Hunter has a link to the New Zealand Cup through his brother Henderson, who trained and drove the 1978 winner, Trusty Scott. Hunter’s father, the late Adam Hunter, part-owned the horse that downed fellow Southlander…
Month: November 2020
‘Ghosts’ of Topguns past
Matthew Clark was a spritely 20-year-old catching pen attendant when the inaugural Topgun – a deadheat between Golden Currency and Worth Backing – was decided at Sandown Park in 1993. And ever since, Clark, now 47, has held on to ‘haunting’ dreams of winning the prestigious invitation-only event. But Clark’s vision could finally become reality when Catch The Thief – aptly nicknamed “Ghost” – contests the Group 1 TAB Topgun (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night. “I was only a ‘kid’ when the first Topgun was run in 1993……
Bary back trackside
Hastings trainer John Bary is looking forward to getting back trackside at Hastings on Sunday after an eight month absence. While he spent much of that time away as a result of COVID-19 enforced measures, Bary underwent back surgery in September which resulted in him missing stable runner Callsign Mav’s win the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and placing in the Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). “I am hoping to be on course on Sunday,” Bary said. “It has been about eight months since I was on course last on Oaks…
Big Fish, Little Fish – Rangiora 6 November
Selections – Rangiora – 6 November
Selections for Methven today. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race MATT CROSSCommentator MYSTERY TIPSTER(Same every week) Race 11.04pm 9 Mahia6 Rick Reilly7 Deja Blue5 Duffy Hollow 5 Duffy Hollow 7 Deja Blue 6 Rick Reilly 9 Mahia Race 21.39pm 7 Queen Of Strathfield5 Yea You10 Eilish Hall2 Spot The Gamble 7 Queen Of Strathfield 10 Eilish Hall 2 Spot The Gamble 8 Steel Legend Race 32.12pm 1 Betterwithbling5 Tyke17 Jeremy Wells4 Morano Cheif 1 Betterwithbling 16 Drink The Wind 5 Tyke 17 Jeremy Wells Race 42.49pm 5 Unfazed8 Mach’s Eliminator9…
Selections Cambridge – 6 November
Selections for Auckland tonight Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race JASON TEAZForm Analyst MICHAEL GUERINForm Analyst Race 15.36pm 2 New York Minute 5 Jemma 7 Delightful Catherine 1 Ideal Agent 2 New York Minute 1 Ideal Agent 5 Jemma 3 Adieu Flirt Race 26.05pm 8 Manchester’s Eclipse 2 Kelvinz Luck 1 Demolition Man 10 Circus Circus 2 Kelvinz Luck 1 Demolition Man 6 Flying Scotsman 8 Manchester’s Eclipse Race 36.34pm 3 Bet West 5 Revitalise 8 Jungle Gem 11 Anam Nunu 5 Revitalise 2 Port Delight 11 Anam Nunu 3…
Manners the key with Horace Horse
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Clevedon trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan are hoping promising trotter Horace Horse will bring his manners to Cambridge Raceway on Friday. The son of Quaker Jet broke twice in his last start at the Waikato track and his connections have their fingers-crossed that was an anomaly. “It was a bit unfortunate last time, he just threw his toys out of the cot. Hopefully it’s just the one start, he is usually pretty good with his manners,” Phelan said. “We will just forget about…
Tough task for Tofane in Sprint Classic
Trainer Mike Moroney knows Group One winner Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) has her work cut out for her in Saturday’s Gr.1 Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday, but believes she will be more than competitive. “She’ll need some luck in the run, but she is a Group One horse and good enough to win,” he said. The mare is one of five runners to come out of the A$15 million The Everest (1200m), where she finished unplaced after pulling up with a breathing issues. “She ended up with…
Luck of the Irish for Kiwis
Mornington trainer Brett Scott was delighted to pick up a winner at Flemington on Oaks Day with handy middle distance galloper Irish Flame (NZ) (Zed) in the Twitter Trophy (1800m). The son of Zed transferred from Scott’s old boss John Wheeler after a Waverley trial in late June and the six-time winner in New Zealand has now had seven starts for his new conditioner for two wins and four placings. Irish Flame was pushed forward by expat Kiwi jockey Daniel Stackhouse, who was a late replacement for Michael Walker, to…
Tavistock mare salutes at Flemington
Four-year-old mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) made it back-to-back wins for trainer Symon Wilde when successful at Flemington in the TCL TV Stakes (1700m) in the opening event on Oaks Day. The Warrnambool-trained daughter of Tavistock was perfectly ridden by Kerrin McEvoy to score by a length, advancing her record to two wins and two placings from six starts. Wilde believes the mare, who like Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock), is bred on the Tavistock-Zabeel cross, will be better suited over further ground. “I think…