Racing from across the Globe
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Monday will mark 70 years since the first running of the Ashburton Flying Stakes. In that time only 11 horses have won the race and then gone on to win the New Zealand Cup in the same year. Only two horses have done it twice – Lazarus in 2016 and 2017 and Terror To Love in 2012 and 2013. The first horse to do the Stakes- Cup double was Our Roger. He won the very first Ashburton Flying Stakes on Oct 1, 1955…
Trainers who line up their horses in the up-coming World Driving Championship will be in the running for a “cash” bonus. Five Garrards vouchers, each worth $500, will be won by trainers, with each starter entered automatically into the draw for the following meetings : Kaikoura (November 2 and 3)Cambridge (November 5)Winton (November 9)Addington (November 7)Addington November 11 There’ll be one winner at each of the above, with all five drawn on Wednesday, November 12. The results will be announced on hrnz.co.nz “We want the best horses possible to…
The Nepheti (NZ) (Charm Spirit) of old showed her colours at Te Aroha on Wednesday, the mare kicking off her five-year-old campaign with a powerful victory in The George Abernathy and Associates 1150. Stakes-performed at three, Nepheti performed solidly without reaching those same heights last term, but looked ready to get back to the winner’s circle with two good trials this time in. In a competitive Rating 70 field, Nepheti’s $15 opening price was snapped up by punters, closing near the $7 mark. After a key rival in Magice was…
Michael Kent Jnr says he’s confident Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit) will be cleared to take his place in the Cox Plate this Saturday. But the stable will accept whatever decision Racing Victoria’s vets come to on Thursday. The Group 1 winner must be given the tick of approval after an “irritation” was detected in a fetlock joint on Monday. One of Globe’s trainers provided a positive update on The Verdict podcast on Wednesday morning. “As of this morning, Max rode him and said he felt fantastic – he’s his regular rider…
It was a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at Te Aroha on Wednesday when Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett) broke through for her maiden win in the Donaghys Moxipor (1150m). The blue-blooded filly is a daughter of Coolmore’s ill-fated stallion Wootton Bassett and Te Akau’s former nine-time Group One winner Avantage. Following her stellar racing career, Avantage was bought by Tom Magnier and global breeding giant Coolmore off New Zealand Bloodstock’s online platform Gavelhouse Plus for $4.1 million. Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis went to last year’s Gold Coast Yearling…
Levin trainer Josh Shaw will head to New Plymouth on Friday with a trio of runners, including two maideners he is hoping can breakthrough for an elusive win. Sweet Envy (NZ) (Sweet Orange) has been knocking on the door for some time, placing in five of her last six outings, and Shaw is hoping she can finally deliver for her connections in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m). “She has been going good races,” Shaw said. “We would ideally have liked to have gone to Otaki a couple of weeks…
Riverton stayer Vamos will stay close to home over the next couple of weeks as he aims to finish a successful preparation on a winning note. The big-striding Vadamos gelding is a specialist on rain-affected tracks, with five of his seven career victories coming on heavy ground. While there was the option of racing further north this week, his trainer Kelvin Tyler opted for Thursday’s Auto Funds Open (1800m) at Gore and a similar contest next Sunday at Riverton where the ground will be more to Vamos’ liking. “He’s a…
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s a matter of when, not if, for the country’s top driver Blair Orange. The seven-time premiership winner is vying to become just the fourth driver in this country’s harness racing history to crack the 3000-win barrier, joining Tony Herlihy (3717 wins), Maurice McKendry (3429) and Ricky May (3189). With his career tally now at 2996, he has six drives at Addington today. Any win will of course inch him closer to his milestone, though he’s hardly brimming confidence ahead of the midweek…
Aussie invaders Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini have made their presence felt in the latest Renwick Farms Dominion Trot rankings. Fresh from running one-two in the Group 1 Bill Collins Sprint at Melton, the two Margaret and Paddy Lee-trained stablemates are now sixth and seventh on this week’s leaderboard. The pair were highly impressive on Saturday night, clearing out from what was a stacked line-up. Last year Keayang Zahara was a dominant winner of all three starts on this side of the Tasman. She now has career record of 17 wins from 18…
The first horses have been announced for the two $500,000 slot races at Addington Raceway on Show Day (November 14). And they won’t be a surprise to anyone. Top three-year-old trotters Tarragindi and Meant To Be have been confirmed for the Majestic Horse Floats THE ASCENT while the Hill Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY will feature pacing stars Marketplace and Got The Chocolates. The pair clashed at Addington earlier this month with the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Got The Chocolates prevailing by a neck. But Marketplace, rated as a potential…