A tilt at the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie next month is on the line for City Slicker (NZ) (Shocking) at Wingatui on Saturday. The five-year-old mare is slated for a late nomination for the feature two-mile race, however, she will need to perform well in the Listed Nellies Restaurant And Bar Dunedin Gold Cup (2400m) on Saturday to warrant the late payment. The daughter of Shocking has won two of her last three starts and Kelvin Tyler, who trains in partnership with his daughter Aimee,…
Month: February 2021
Sharrock fillies take home advantage into Oaks Prelude
New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock will use a home-track feature as a potential launching pad to next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Sharrock had planned to use last week’s Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham to assess how promising fillies Sumi (NZ) (Atlante) and Signora Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse) were shaping as potential Oaks fillies. But through misfortune, neither started and Sharrock will default to producing both in Saturday’s Listed Fasttrack Insurance Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth. “Sumi drew 14 out of…
Team Teal Dinner @ Addington
Come and join us at Addington Raceway on Thursday 25 February as we host a special ‘Team Teal Dinner’ raising awareness and much needed funds for ovarian cancer research. Across six weeks from February 1 to March 14 all female drivers in New Zealand and Australia will race in teal pants to raise awareness and funds. All funds raised by Team Teal NZ will stay in New Zealand to support research programmes. Harness Racing New Zealand is pleased to play its part by hosting an evening at Addington Raceway. **********…
Whale Watch – Friday – Addington Feb 5
Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Friday night’s meeting at Addington
Whale Watch – Addington – February 4
Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at the best prospects from tonight’s Addington meeting in this edition of “Whale Watch”.
Southland gets in behind Team Teal
Starting this weekend, Southland is cranking up its fund-raising efforts for Team Teal, with one generous donor giving up his wages during the six-week campaign. Art Bloxham, the crash vehicle driver at most southern meetings, says it’s just an idea that popped into his head while he was reading an article on Teal Team ambassador Sam Ottley. Now in its fourth year in this country Teal Pants is all about raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. “I have three daughters and two grand-daughters, this is a great cause,”…
Online registrations open for yearling sales
Online bidding registrations for NZB Standardbred’s 2021 National Yearling Sale held at Auckland and Christchurch are now open. Despite international border closures, buyers using the online bidding platform can bid with confidence based on the results achieved at parent company, New Zealand Bloodstock’s, extremely successful 2020 Ready to Run Sale and Karaka 2021 National Yearling Sales Series. For more details check here
Enjoy Me scratched after training accident
By Michael Guerin A track work incident this morning has sidelined two of the Telfer team’s biggest chances at Alexandra Park tomorrow night but co-trainer Steve Telfer hopes for not long. Enjoy Me got herself in a tangle when feeling a bit too good during Thursday morning trackwork and kicked out, getting her hind legs over the sulky shafts. She has taken off some skin that will force the last-start Sires’ Stakes Championship winner to miss the first Nevele R Fillies heat at Alexandra Park tomorrow. “I don’t think it…
Mark Purdon hails Arty in Hunter Cup lead-up
As Lochinvar Art charges towards Hunter Cup victory on Saturday night, and an amazing sixth Group 1 win in the past 13 months, comparisons with the greats of the sport are growing. Champion Kiwi horseman Mark Purdon, who has trained a long list of champions, is an unabashed fan of Lochinvar Art. “He first really made me stand-up and take notice just over a year ago when beat Self Assured on his merits and ran that incredible time in the 4YO Bonanza,” Purdon said. “I then had my chance to…
Hope excited about juvenile trotter
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Junior reinsman Ben Hope is looking forward to heading to Addington Raceway on Thursday night to sit behind promising trotter Mr Love. The juvenile squaregaiter is having just his second raceday start in the Lamb & Hayward 2YO Mobile Trot (1980m) after being victorious on debut. The Greg and Nina Hope-trained colt faces a similar line-up on Thursday and his driver is confident of another good result. “He is a horse that we have always had a bit of time for,” he said. “I…