Donnelly has big team in at Cambridge tonight

By Jordyn Bublitz  Arna Donnelly has an army of runners to contest tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway. “It’s been a good team effort to get them all there and going good,” said Donnelly who has a total of eight runners spread across the 8-race programme.  The first three of her charges go head-to-head in Race 1, the Mid-Winter Christmas at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace. Ragnar Lothbrok faces a step up in grade to compete against stablemates Beta Prepare and Red Rackham. Of the three Donnelly is of the opinion that…

Proposed Handicapping and Rating changes deferred

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) wishes to notify all participants that the proposed changes to the Handicapping and Rating system, initially set to be implemented at the end of May, will start Monday, June 30. This decision has been made following valuable feedback received from participants during a series of roadshows held across New Zealand. This short delay provides additional time to review and test the changes. HRNZ remains committed to ensuring that all aspects of the new system are fully prepared, with a clear focus on achieving a smooth…

Immediacy to chip around lucrative fringe

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are maintaining a conservative approach with rejuvenated gelding Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino). The four-year-old son of Tarzino runs in this Saturday’s Gr.3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben in preference to the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a week later. Immediacy has comfortably won his past two starts, taking his record to five wins from 12 starts, and is among the early nominations for Saturday week’s weight-for-age $1 million event over 2000m, which Busuttin felt was just a little bit out of reach for this stage of his…

Unstoppable Grylls steers promising filly to victory.

Craig Grylls’ near-unassailable lead in the national jockey’s premiership was given a further boost early at Matamata on Wednesday, with deserving maiden winner Viva Glam (NZ) (Savabeel) featuring in his winning treble. After guiding home Stephen Marsh’s well-bred filly Alacritous (NZ) (Dundeel) and stablemate The Exponent (NZ) (Shocking), Grylls combined with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Viva Glam, a filly having her sixth start in the MBS Advisors 1200. The daughter of Savabeel started a $4 favourite and found a comfortable spot in midfield through the running, while Born…

The Oaks Stud Announces 2025 Stallion Line-Up

The Oaks Stud has announced its 2025 stallion line-up, headlined by U S Navy Flag, who will stand for $12,500 + GST.   A son of War Front out of Misty For Me, U S Navy Flag is a proven performer on the track and at stud, with 141 winners globally, including five stakes winners, headed by Group Two winner The Pendragon and Group Three winner So Naïve.   Joining him is The Chosen One, standing at $4,000 + GST. A son of Savabeel, The Chosen One earned $2.7 million in prize…

Go Racing strike again with proven pedigree

New Zealand syndicator Go Racing looks like they have struck gold once again from the same source following Alacritous’ (NZ) (Dundeel) impressive maiden victory in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series (1200m) at Matamata on Wednesday.  The two-year-old daughter of Dundeel is a half-sister to last season’s New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old Velocious, and following her win in last year’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) for trainer Stephen Marsh, Go Racing’s Albert Bosma went to Karaka to purchase her sibling for $300,000.  Subsequently named Alacritous, the filly was entrusted to the care of…

Stradbroke mission ahead for Pier

Darryn and Briar Weatherley are dreaming of Group One glory once again with their star galloper Pier (NZ) (Proisir), who is bound for Queensland after an impressive exhibition gallop at Matamata on Wednesday.  Pier’s journey as an elite racehorse has been far from smooth, from the highs of winning a Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old, to the lows of multiple injury lay-offs over the past 18 months. The Weatherleys have exercised plenty of patience during this time and were very nearly rewarded upon his most-recent return…

Smart three-year-old heads to Melbourne in top form for upcoming challenge

Quality three-year-old Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth)  will be the master of his own destiny in Melbourne with his length of stay to be determined by his performance on Saturday.  The stakes-winning son of Super Seth will run in the Silver Bowl Series Heat 1 (1400m) at Flemington with Jordan Childs booked for the ride.  “He’s going great and flew over this morning after he had galloped beautifully on Tuesday morning,” trainer Stephen Marsh said.  “He’s on an open ticket over there, whether that be one run or two.  “We’ll…

News Briefs – May 14

Mossdale Ben’s winning run in the USA, a poll on the greatest Sires’ Stakes champions and new phone and email details for the Racing Bureau all feature in this week’s News Briefs. Kiwi-bred leading USA stakes winners Mossdale Ben is turning into quite the buy for his American owners. The Kiwi-bred has had eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts and is the leading stakes earner in the USA this year. His earnings currently stand at $US404K ($NZ680K). Bred by Archie Affleck in Southland, the son of Rocknroll Dance…