By Mike Love The Matt Purvis stable looks to be one to watch at Westport today, with a number of very live chances. Two of his runners go around in Race 1, the Stu Bailey Memorial (Sponsored By Mark Jones) HCP Trot over 2600m. Drawn one is Learning To Fly, to be driven by Robbie Close. Having only her third career start today, she is backing up from her strong fresh up run for second at Addington back on February 19. Purvis is confident of the filly’s ability, but…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Dalgetys cautious about chances at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety has his stable big guns in Auckland this week but he isn’t predicting them to be firing as the Northern Lights Autumn Carnival gets underway at Alexandra Park tonight. And that could act as a warning for punters eyeing plenty of other big-name horses at this meeting which is somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the weeks ahead. Dalgety and wife Chrissie train one of the most powerful teams in New Zealand harness racing, including Horse of the Year Republican Party, who is in Auckland…
Early rush key to Pinseeker’s chances at Menangle
By Adam Hamilton Pinseeker’s hopes of making one of the strongest Miracle Mile fields for 20 years could rest on how the first 150 metres plays out at Menangle on Saturday night. If Jonny Cox can get across from gate two to head-off pole-marker The Janitor and find the pegs, it will be a huge boost to Pinseeker’s prospects. Only a top two finish in a star-studded $75,000 Bioworma Sprint (11.10pm) will guarantee Pinseeker a spot in the elite eight-horse Miracle Mile a week later. He still has a chance…
Carolan Questro looms as big chance at Cambridge tonight
By Jordyn Bublitz Strong lead-up form and an ideal draw has trainer Rod MacKenzie confident about Carolan Questro’s chances at Cambridge tonight. The five-year-old mare will line up in Race 4, the Drax Project At Night Of Champions Junior Drivers Mobile Pace (2200 metres). Having drawn the ace, MacKenzie says Carolan Questro will be heading for the front. “She’s got tons of early speed and she’ll lead early,” he says. The daughter of A Rocknroll Dance has been carefully managed throughout her career, and MacKenzie is eager to see her…
Show Stopper looks the goods at Oamaru today
By Jonny Turner Cran Dalgety hopes Show Stopper has found the perfect spot in Wednesday’s Southern Oaks heat at Oamaru. The three-year-old heads south with stablemate The Merc after placing in all three of her starts this time in. Show Stopper is set to start favourite from barrier 2 in Oamaru’s opening heat of the series (5.58pm) and Dalgety is hopeful that draw is one of several key factors in his horse’s favour. “She has been racing great, she’s just been running into one better on the day lately.” “The…
John Stewart Gray’s best hope at Rangiora
By Mike Love West Melton trainer Joseph Gray is set for a busy afternoon at Rangiora today, with three runners across the card. Gray’s best hope comes in Race Six, the Enjoy and Support Kidz Carts Racing At Rangiora Today Pace over 2600 metres (3:04pm), where junior driver Alana Cameron will take the drive on the Stay Hungry four-year-old gelding John Stewart ($2.80FF). “He’s a nice horse. He’s come on well from his last race where they went a New Zealand record on the grass,” Gray said. Having won three…
Ferguson with key chances in Group 3s at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson knows the first few metres of the Group 3 events on Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Day could be as crucial as the last. Ferguson links up with two key chances in Validation in the Caduceus Club Of Southland Alabar Fillies Classic and Wag Star in the Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup. Validation is the only filly in her field of youngsters to have been to the races ahead of Sunday’s Group 3. The Ross Houghton trained two-year-old led early from barrier 1 in her…
Hackett with strong chances at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Outstanding young driver Crystal Hackett could start the next phase of her career on a high at Alexandra Park tonight. The Group 1-winning driver has moved employers after nearly five years working for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan during which time she drove 168 winners in New Zealand and has been the leading junior driver in the North Island three times before finishing second on that table to Harrison Orange last year. She also drove Mach Shard to win two Group 1 races and has become a…
Muscle Mountain eyes up fourth Fred Shaw Memorial at Addington
By Michael Guerin Punters shouldn’t be put off by Muscle Mountain missing the logical lead-up to Friday night’s $100,000 Fred Shaw Memorial NZ Trotting Champs at Addington. Because co-trainer and driver Ben Hope says that was by design and the big fella is exactly where he needs to be for his shot at winning the Group 1 for the fourth time. While many of his rivals clashed in the Lamb And Hayward Classic won by Eurostyle two weeks ago Muscle Mountain was enjoying a night off at home. “We chose…
Blaze’s big chance at Palmy today
By Dave Di Somma, Harness New Desk Hawera trainer Willie Fleming can’t remember the last time he had such a short-priced favourite at the races. At Palmerston North today he lines up well-performed maiden Run Blaze Run in the Manawatu ITM Mobile Pace. After being placed second in his last four starts the Betterthancheddar five-year-old is currently at $1.55 to finally break through. “He’s overdue really isn’t he?” laughs Fleming. “You’d like to think today is the day but racing’s racing and anything can happen.” To be driven by…