After a short break in August, the very popular Metro series is back. September 12 will see four heats run, two each for the R40-50 Pacers and Trotters. Each heat will be worth $17,000 with the first four in each of them automatically qualifying for the two $35,000 finals a fortnight later (September 26). All heats and finals will be held at Alexandra Park. The Metro series is a key part of the Look North strategy launched last year to reinvigorate racing in Auckland and Cambridge. The last finals were…
Year: 2025
News Briefs – August 20
A great weekend for turnovers, a permanent change at Addington, a tonne of horse feed and Dex hitting $6m all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Turnovers up across the board Harness racing turnovers had a sharp upturn over the weekend, with $2.36m spread over the Addington, Auckland and Oamaru meetings. The total was over $200,000 or 12.4 per cent up on the corresponding meetings last year. On Friday night Addington totalled $917.4k, up 10.2%, on the same number of races while Auckland’s was $582.5k, up 18.5%. The Kurow…
Northern mile looming for Matscot
Canterbury gelding Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) is once again set to fly the southern flag in the North Island next month when he crosses the Cook Strait to contest the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa. The eight-year-old son of Haradasun ran third in the race last year, when it was run as the Arrowfield Stud Plate at Matamata, and trainers Sharon Robertson and Alan Reeves are looking forward to returning to Waikato with their charge in a bid to go two better in the mile feature. Matscot made…
Hutchings set for homecoming next month
Following his successful stint in New Zealand over summer, expat Kiwi jockey Rory Hutchings is set to return to his homeland next month. While he spent several months in New Zealand at the start of the year, this trip will be a hit-and-run mission for the Sydney-based hoop, who has answered the call of leading New Zealand stable Te Akau. He has been booked to ride Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s Group One winner Quintessa (Shamus Award) in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on September 6, and he…
Seamsew continues strong synthetic run
Cambridge trainer Mark Treweek continued his great record on his local synthetic track on Wednesday when Seamsew (Brazen Beau) took out the Saddley Warehouse (970m). The seven-year-old son of Brazen Beau jumped away well from his wide gate and was sent straight to the front by apprentice jockey Rihaan Goyaram. Seamsew continued to lead the pack into the turn and was asked to improve by Goyaram, and he quickly responded, opening up several lengths on his rivals. Race favourite Electric Zou closed quickly late, but came up a long head…
Gringotts appeals as Winx Stakes knockout
Tommy Berry can make a case for Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto) upsetting the apple cart in the Winx Stakes. All eyes will be on the return of star mare Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes but rival jockey Tommy Berry believes it just might be the right race at the right time for Gringotts in the gelding’s bid for a second major. Gringotts will kick off his campaign in Saturday’s Randwick feature having captured his maiden Group 1 win in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) last campaign. While several of Gringott’s rivals are better known over longer journeys,…
Leedox set to make New Zealand return
Timaru trainer Stephanie Faulkner looks to have her hands on another exciting ex-Hong Kong galloper, with stakes winner Leedox (NZ) (Time Test) set to make his New Zealand return. Faulkner had plenty of success with fellow former Hong Kong galloper Green Luck, who claimed last year’s Gr.3 Canterbury Gold Cup (2000m) and North Canterbury Cup (2000m). Following his retirement late last year, Faulkner was on the lookout for a replacement, and her connection with Green Luck led to Leedox joining her barn in March. Initially trained by Andrew Forsman, Leedox…
Eagerly-awaited debut for blue-blooded pacer
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk There will be a lot of eyes on No 5 in Race 2 at Alexandra Park on Friday night – and for good reason. No More Dreaming, a full brother to millionaire pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming and a $340,000 sales topper at the 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales in Christchurch, will make his debut in the NZB Standardbred – Here for the Horse Mobile Pace at 5.55pm. “We are aware of the expectation,” says co-trainer Scott Phelan, “but you are going…
Wednesday’s top horse racing bookie promos & offers | August 20
Check out the great racing offers available from horse racing bookmakers on Wednesday, August 20. Enjoy bonus back deals and other promotions to boost your betting experience. Explore these specials from top online bookmakers and get more value from your bets. Top Australian racing promotions for August 20, 2025, include: Today’s horse racing promotions Sandown Races 1-6 | Bet bAck Run 2nd or 3rd Activate your Bet Back Tool in your Betslip on Races 1-6 at Sandown this Wednesday and if your runner comes 2nd or 3rd get up $50…
Winning owners-breeders for June and July
The winners of the Harness Racing New Zealand Owner and Breeder of the Month awards have been decided for June and July. Every month the winners are selected at random, with the only proviso being that their horses must have won during the specified month. For June Cheree Wigg (pictured above, right) was breeder of the month after Helius won on debut at Addington while Irene Jessett was the winning owner after Iron Brigade’s success at Alexandra Park on June 13. “It was very rewarding,” says Wigg, “and we were…