Year: 2025

Big gamble pays off for Kingman in IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin It turns out fortune really does favour the brave. Well, the brave who happen to own a Victoria Cup winner and have $25,000 lying around a week or two out from the IRT New Zealand Cup, which was won in physics-defying fashion by Kingman at Addington. The New South Wales pacer continued Australia’s recent domination of the 3200m thriller by sitting three wide for the last 1400m and still proving too good for favourite and fellow Aussie raider Leap To Fame. It was the second occasion Kingman…

Queensland’s big win in the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Harness racing had its “Cool Runnings” moment in the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington. You might remember the 1993 movie based on the true story about the first Jamaican Bobsled team to go to the Winter Olympics. Well, that was kind of what Queensland trotter Gus did in New Zealand’s greatest trot race on Tuesday. Except unlike the lads from Jamaica, Gus won. The former rogue whose brain has often struggled to keep up with his legs smashed many of Australasia’s best trotters after a…

James MacDonald wins second WDC title

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Canadian James MacDonald has today claimed his second World Driving Championship title, with Kiwi Blair Orange finishing fourth. The 20th and final heat of the WDC was held as part of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington this afternoon. With a 15 point lead going into today MacDonald could only be pipped for the title if he finished last and nearest challenger, Australian Gary Hall junior won. As it turned out neither of those scenarios played out in the  Mitre 10…

Sibling Rivalry scores maiden win at Te Aroha

NZRacingDesk

A bright future is being tipped for Sibling Rivalry (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) after she broke through for her maiden win in the Harcourts Monarch (1150m) at Te Aroha on Tuesday. The three-year-old daughter of Satono Aladdin was fair away, but jockey Craig Grylls got busy on her early, driving her forward to sit outside leader Van Damme. Van Damme set a good tempo up front, with Sibling Rivalry keeping him company throughout, and turning for home the pair had opened up a good margin on their rivals and looked fully…

Spring Stars Boost NZB Ready to Run Sale Pedigrees

NZRacingDesk

The results of showpiece races throughout the spring have delivered notable pedigree updates to the catalogue for this week’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. The highest-profile pedigree update belongs to Lot 248, who can now be described as a half-brother to a Group One winner during the 2025 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Offered by breeder Barry Donoghue’s BMD Bloodstock, the Ace High colt is a half-brother to Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who triumphed in the A$1m Group One Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11. It…

Silent Is Gold makes pleasing return

NZRacingDesk

Trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray are excited for what the summer has instore for Silent Is Gold (Star Turn) following his pleasing trial win over 850m at Foxton on Tuesday. A stakes performer in Singapore, the son of Star Turn came to New Zealand with Stephen Gray when racing ceased in that jurisdiction, and resumed in his adopted homeland in January following a 10-month break. He made an instant impact in New Zealand, placing in three races before winning over 1350m at Wanganui in April. Stephen Gray has been pleased…

Matscot chasing TAB mile success for the locals

NZRacingDesk

Canterbury galloper Matscot (NZ) (Haradasun) will aim to break a streak of visitor success in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) when he takes his second shot at the feature on Wednesday at Riccarton Park. The eight-year-old went close to winning last year’s edition, missing the top spot by a head to Central Districts raider Kopua. A sought-after prize, the $250,000 race has been won by North Island contenders for the past six runnings and Matscot is right in contention to change that trend again this year, currently rated a $12…

Mile hope in right order for another carnival strike

NZRacingDesk

Mystic Park (NZ) (Ocean Park) produced a career-high performance during last year’s New Zealand Cup carnival, and he’s primed to rise to another level on his home turf on Wednesday. Riccarton trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman produced him to claim the Listed Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) 12 months ago and this time the son of Ocean Park has the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) in his sights. Mystic Park has got home strongly for minor placings in his last two outings, and five of his seven wins have come on his local…

Carter Dalgety on Republican Party’s NZ Cup chances – “if we can get to the front I won’t be handing up.”

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin One man may hold to the key to today’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. There will be 15 high class pacers from 11 different stables and two countries in our greatest harness race over 3200m but what Carter Dalgety chooses to do in a few crucial seconds around the middle of the race could determine the outcome more than just about anything else. Dalgety drives New Zealand’s leading hope Republican Party, trained by his parents Cran and Chrissie, who have craved a New Zealand…

Is Jilliby Ballerini “too short” in Renwick Farms Dominion Trot?

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Australian reinsman Jason Lee admits the mystery horse of New Zealand Cup day comes with a risk. So he warns punters Jilliby Ballerini is no good thing even as the surprise $2.80 favourite in today’s $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion at Addington. While die-hard harness fans may have seen Jilliby Ballerini starring in Victoria recently well over 90 per cent of New Zealand harness racing fans would never have seen her race. Here is the snapshot: Four-year-old mare trained by the same stable as champion youngster Keayang Zahara,…