Harness Racing New Zealand has released a new regulation that will shape how meetings are conducted and races are programmed, handicapped, and rated. The new Conduct of Meetings, Programming, Handicapping and Rating Regulation comes into effect on Monday 30 June 2025, and replaces the existing Handicapping Regulation, Programming Condition – General Regulation, and Ratings Handicapping System Guiding Principles. HRNZ acknowledges the short notice of this release. However, it follows a lengthy consultation process across the industry. The organisation has aimed to give due consideration to all feedback and incorporate it…
Year: 2025
The Greek Freak breaks through for Stevens team
by Jonny Turner Teamwork helped turn frustration into winning delight when The Greek Freak broke through at Winton on Thursday. The trotter produced a gritty effort to break maidens, handing husband-and-wife trainers Richard and Fiona Stevens their first trotting win. The teamwork that went into The Greek Freak’s win goes beyond what the Stevens have poured into the horse themselves. Earlier this year, the five-year-old was struggling to trot around the first bend in his races, let alone prove competitive at the finish. But after getting his manners and gait…
Esmeralda ready to tackle Akatea’s dominance
Ashburton trainer Gerard O’Reilly will be looking to turn the tables on Akatea ($2.60FF) in the inaugural running of the Silk Road Series Final tonight at Addington Raceway with his mare Esmeralda. The four-year-old Always B Miki mare has compiled a sound record to date — winning four from nine and placing a further four times. Her most recent victory at Addington over 2600m showcased her tenacity and strength after being pressured a few times during the running. “She’s handling all the racing really well,” said O’Reilly. But they have yet…
Coeur Volante chases Moroney dream
The late Mike Moroney always believed Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) had the potential to be a Group One winner. As a three-year-old, Coeur Volante started favourite in the Gr.1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield, finishing fourth to Joliestar (Zoustar), while placegetters in that race were subsequent Group One winners Kimochi (Brave Smash) and Skybird (Exosphere). Coeur Volante was Moroney’s last winner when successful in the Gr.3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in February before dying in his sleep just days later. Under the care of Glen Thompson, Coeur Volante did not run again at Group One level until this…
Claim a boost for super-consistent Bradman
With Jim Chung’s two-kilogram claim reducing his weight to 57.5kg, Bradman will attempt to break a year-long absence from the winners’ circle in the MJH Engineering Limited Whyte Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. The Pins gelding has won eight races and more than $317,000 in stakes, but has endured a frustrating run through the last 13 months. Since his last victory in a 1400m open handicap at Trentham in May of last year, Bradman has run second in the Listed AGC Training Stakes (1600m), fourth in the Listed Opunake…
Cambridge Stud to Sell 100% at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud has committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. Karaka 2026, which marks the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, will debut a new format that features condensed quality throughout Book 1 and Book 2 and the introduction of a third session, the Karaka Summer Sale. Cambridge Stud has a long-standing history of selling yearlings, dating back to their debut at Trentham during the 1978 National Yearling…
Dark Destroyer backs up for Tattersall’s Cup
Darryn and Briar Weatherley are hoping a quick back-up into Saturday’s Gr.3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm might bring a change of fortunes for Dark Destroyer. The winner of five races and more than $640,000 in stakes, headed by the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) in the spring of 2022, Dark Destroyer struggled to find his best form in a 10-race preparation as a five-year-old last season. He showed promising signs last month with a second placing in the Listed Rotorua Cup (2200m), earning a trip across the Tasman alongside…
Logan following successful blueprint in the south
Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan has had success campaigning horses in the South Island before, and she is hoping following a similar blueprint will pay off with I’ll Hava Semillon, who will bid to breakthrough for her maiden win in Sunday’s KB Contractors (2200m) at Wingatui. Stablemate Wry Smile campaigned in the south over summer, scoring his maiden win at Riccarton in January before placing at Wingatui a month later. The four-year-old gelding was based at trainer Krystal Williams’ Burnham base, and Logan has once again called on her lifelong friend…
Alexanders hoping for healthy northern payday
Simon and Katrina Alexander could be in for a healthy payday when they head to Ruakaka on Saturday with a couple of leading chances in the ITM/GIB Northern Winter Championship Finals. The husband-and-wife training duo have two warm favourites in Major Major and Acapelago, who will both be vying to secure the $60,000 purse on offer in their respective finals. Seven-year-old Pins gelding Major Major has won two of his last three starts and will meet a similar line-up in Saturday’s ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup Stayers’ Final (2100m), for which…
Jesko shooting for gold in Wellington Steeplechase
Champion jumps jockey Shaun Fannin has tasted success in the Grant Plumbing Wellington Steeplechase (4900m) on two occasions, and on Saturday he will attempt to claim his first title as a trainer. The Awapuni horseman will ride his rising stable star Jesko, who is making waves in the jumping scene, having won a hurdle race before transitioning to the bigger fences where he has accrued a faultless record, winning both of his steeplechase starts, including the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m) at Trentham earlier this month. He will return to the Upper…