Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jordyn Bublitz  David Marshall might not be as visible around the race-tracks as he once was, but he will still have a strong presence at Cambridge Raceway tonight with two fillies stepping out for the Movie Night At The Raceway 21st Dec Mobile Pace. These days Marshall keeps his operation deliberately small, a change that has come about as his son Kyle has forged his own successful path across the Tasman. Kyle, alongside partner Sophie Jeffries, has built a thriving training business in Victoria.  “He’s doing so well over…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  After impressing with a win on debut Amistozo will line up for the second time in eight days, at Methven today. “When I saw there was another race for her, a one win trot, I thought we’d make the most of it,” says trainer-driver John Morrison.  The Creatine three-year-old had a slight bobble at the start of her first race on the grass at Oamaru last Wednesday before going to the front and holding comfortably to win by a length. “She just wanted…

By Jonny Turner  Bob Butt doesn’t have to do any second guessing ahead of The Lazarus Effect’s Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup quest. The rising star comes into the Southland feature at Ascot Park on Friday with all kinds of ticks next to his name. He’s in great form, has been beginning brilliantly in recent standing starts and has proven himself at Group 1 level. It is the latter of those which means Butt will head into the Invercargill Cup with the utmost confidence in his pacer. A…

By Jonny Turner  Is 20m a long way in a Group 1? That’s the question harness racing fans will need to ask themselves ahead of the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup on Friday. Race favourite and defending champion Republican Party will be back in the south ready for a repeat of his brilliant 2024 victory in Southland’s biggest race. An outstanding fresh-up victory at Addington last week left no doubt about what kind of shape he is in ahead of his title defence. That means considering whether Republican…

By Mike Love Woodend Beach trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn will be looking to cap off their successful weekend at today’s Rangiora Summer Cup meeting. The barn tasted success across the country on Friday night, including Ya Rite Darl, who won the Group One TAB Queen Of Diamonds at Alexandra Park, while One Over Da Line won at Addington. The Dunn team will line up five runners at today’s meeting, including three runners in the $25,000 New World (Rangiora) Summer Cup over 2600m. Race favourite It’s Tough ($2.10FF) will be…

By Jonny Turner Race conditions aren’t perfect, but Kirk Larsen is hoping to make an impact with his team at Winton on Sunday. With four runners, the trainer-driver has most of his racing team starting at Central Southland Raceway. Xerion will be out to continue his strong form when stepping out in the meeting’s feature trot. The five-year-old rematches with Bring On The Muscle and Jimmy Carter, who beat him home in their recent match-up at Ascot Park. Though Larsen has the advantage of getting a head start over the…

By Michael Guerin A private workout at Addington on Monday convinced trainer Cran Dalgety of two things heading into tonight’s East West Fencing Summer Cup. The first is that Republican Party is ready to win even from the toughest draw and the second is Franco Sinatra will be better off without hopples in the same race. Dalgety and wife Chrissie will try something which is very much a rarity in open class racing in New Zealand these days when the start Franco Sinatra without hopples in tonight’s feature. Mach Shard…

By Michael Guerin The trainer who could dominate tonight’s Group 1 Trot at Alexandra Park has a surprise for punters.  Because Michelle Wallis says the pecking order for the four reps she and husband Bernie Hackett take to the $100,000 TAB Queen of Diamonds may have changed in the last week, even if the bookies don’t think so. The couple are nearing the end of a hugely successful season and could put an exclamation mark on it tonight with Belle Neige, American Muscle, Faith In Manchester and Courmayeur in the…

A $500 TAB Bonus Bet will be given away as part of Ashburton’s big Harness 5000 meeting next week. Sponsored by Phoebe Stud, the Harness 5000 will feature 12 $60,000 races next Sunday (December 21). Entries for the HRNZ $500 TAB Bonus Bet open tomorrow (Friday, December 12). The winner will be drawn after Race 3 on Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 day. The winner must be on-course to claim the prize. If they are not it will be re-drawn until a winner is found. The prize is a $500 Bonus…