By Adam Hamilton New Zealand’s hopes of winning next month’s Inter Dominion trotting series in Brisbane have soared with two star Aussies set to miss the series. Boom four-year-old mare Keayang Zahara, who is well known to Kiwis, and the gifted Susan Is Her Name both won’t be at Albion Park. Susan Is Her Name, who ended Keayang Zahara’s 15-race winning streak at Menangle last month, has been sidelined with a leg injury while Keayang Zahara’s connections haven’t made a final call, co-trainer Paddy Lee today said he “presumed she…
Day: 4 June 2025
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. The three-year-old daughter of Super Seth sports the colours of prominent Kiwi owner Glenn Ritchie and has been patiently handled by Waller, trialing on six occasions before making her raceday debut. Taken back to the rear of the field by James McDonald from a wide gate, Frosty Girl looped the field to score by just over a length and…
In-form filly on black-type trail in Brisbane
Velocious will bid to add Australian black type to her impressive domestic record when she steps out at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Stephen Marsh-trained daughter of Written Tycoon will run in the Listed U & U Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) with multiple Group One-winning jockey Ethan Brown to don the Go Racing silks aboard the three-year-old. She won’t be the only feature race contender on the card for the syndication company, with the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-prepared Maison Louis to take aim at the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).…
Dream All Day to follow in famed sister’s footsteps
Connections are hoping patience pays off when Dream All Day makes her return to racing at Flemington on Saturday. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Dream All Day, a younger sister to star Savabeel mare Atishu, is entered for a fillies and mares benchmark 78 grade race over 1400m. Atishu sold for $2.7 million on the Gold Coast last week having won 11 of her 51 starts and just shy of $6 million in prize money, having been originally purchased as a yearling at Karaka for $260,000 by Go…
Apprentices get their time to shine at New Plymouth
Winter is often the time for apprentice jockeys to shine, and they will get the full spotlight on Thursday when they compete at New Plymouth’s apprentice only day. The eight-race card will exclusively feature apprentice jockeys, who will travel to Taranaki from all corners of the country to showcase their talent. In-form Cambridge apprentice Rihaan Goyaram is particularly looking forward to heading south, where he will have a full book of rides. The 21-year-old currently sits on 32 wins for the season, having taken out the opening event on the…
Kiwi hoops take on New Caledonian racing
North Island jockeys Lynsey Satherley and Kate Hercock gained a fresh perspective on race riding over King’s Birthday weekend, attending a meeting in New Caledonia. Satherley had previously ridden in the French archipelago, but over the past two years, civil unrest and damage to infrastructure has disrupted the regular racing calendar. Now in a period of recovery, New Caledonia was able to resume racing and the two accomplished hoops were invited to ride for a local trainer. “I went over there and rode for them two seasons ago, it initially…
Harrison Orange seals trip to AYDC
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Harrison Orange’s incredible rise up the junior driving ranks has just earned him a New Zealand call up. The 18-year-old secured selection for the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships (AYDC) with a double at Alexandra Park on Friday night. That gave him 39 wins for the year so far, and tellingly one ahead of Crystal Hackett. In recent weeks the pair, who both work for the top northern stables of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, have been locked in a close battle for the…
This week’s markets out from Wednesday
The TAB advises that markets for this week’s harness racing meetings around the country will be out slightly later than usual due to King’s Birthday weekend. Most fields won’t be out till later, with the odds for Cambridge’s Thursday meeting released tomorrow (Wednesday) at midday. The markets for Friday’s double-header at Addington and Auckland will be available from 9am Thursday with Addington’s Sunday markets due out at 6pm on Thursday. For more information contact matthew.peden@hrnz.co.nz
NZ Cup a factor in Leap To fame’s next start
By Adam Hamilton New Zealand fans should be excited about Leap To Fame’s surprise next assignment at Albion Park on Saturday night. Trainer-driver Grant Dixon turned heads when he opted to run his champion pacer from a 30m handicap in a standing-start 2138m race this week. He admitted a longer term vision for November’s IRT NZ Trotting Cup was part of the reason for it. It will be just the second time in Leap To Fame’s 65-start career he has raced from a stand. The other was a win from…