By Michael Guerin One of the men closest to pacing excitement machine Merlin finds himself going head to head with harness racing’s biggest modern trend in the IRT Spring Cup at Alexandra Park tonight (9.16pm). Because co-trainer Scott Phelan says the millionaire stallion is the horse to beat in the 2200m dash even though he is off a 20m handicap, the sort of disadvantage that has become a curse for punters in recent years. As the pacing breed has gotten quicker it has been increasingly rare for horses to win…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Big “hopes” for 3YO trotters at Addington tonight
By Michael Guerin Ben Hope admits he knows a lot more about one of his three-year-old trotters than the other one heading to Addington tonight. But he still thinks they can both win. Hope and father Greg train Habibti Pat (R6, No.7) who resumes in the $60,000 Macca Lodge NZ Sires’ Stakes Classique for the trotting girls tonight while a few races later former northerner Ya Eejit Ya (R9, No.1) makes its stable debut against the older horses. “He has come down from Sean McCaffrey’s and feels like a really…
Numbers soar for Harness 5000
The number of horses eligible for December’s Harness 5000 meeting at Ashburton continues to soar. Every week the Harness 5000 Progress Tracker is updated to show the number of horses who have reached the qualifying threshold for the meeting. Last week the figure was 117. The week before that it was 83. Now it is at 136. The “168” on the tracker signifies all 12 races having full 14-horse fields. It is however anticipated that around 350 horses will be in the mix come December, though this figure could fluctuate.…
Aussie news : Cyclone Jordy’s back and Better Eclipse moves stables
By Adam Hamilton If former star mare Cyclone Kate was human, she would be one heck of a proud mum watching on. Her latest progeny Cyclone Rebel, a colt by Bettor’s Delight, made quite a splash winning his first start at staggeringly big odds at Alexandra Park last Friday week. He steps up quickly again to try and overcome an awful draw (gate 12) and win again in a heat of the Sires’ Stake series at the same track this week. Almost 5400 kilometres away and in a different country,…
Two firsts for Moralde Sands at Cambridge tonight
By Jordyn Bublitz Northern reinswoman Holly Moralde Sands gets a special opportunity at Cambridge Raceway tonight, teaming up with Regal Girl in the Harness Hoedown Skyline Lounge 25th Sept Handicap Trot (6.29pm). The five-year-old daughter of What The Hill is trained by Moralde Sands’ employer Tony Herlihy and while she has had a handful of race-day drives so far, this will be her very first behind one from Herlihy’s team, and her first official drive at Cambridge. Until now, all four of her race day appearances have come aboard her…
Williamson confident with Always Be Batman’s chances at Winton today
By Jonny Turner Punters shouldn’t be alarmed if they see Matthew Williamson in an unfamiliar spot at Winton on Thursday. The reinsman will reunite with Always Be Batman who could sit well off the pace when he starts from barrier 12 in his first start following a brief freshener. Known as one of the best front-running drivers going around, it could be considered a bit odd to see Williamson well back on a warm favourite though if it does pan out that way there shouldn’t be cause for concern. “I…
Invitational Drivers race for Ashburton
Ashburton will take on an international feel at its November meeting. The “Emerging Talent” meeting to be held on the Thursday of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week (November 13) will feature a $20,000 Drivers Invitational race. It will be for 4YO Mares (R35-44) over 1700 metres. It will have a maximum field of 12 (and one ballot). Already dual New Zealand Cup-winning driver Cam Hart has signalled he’ll be there. It comes just two days after the New Zealand Cup where he is aiming for a record-equalling third consecutive…
Akuta moves up in latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings
After his second win in Sunday’s Hannon Memorial, Akuta has climbed up three places in the latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup/ Renwick Farms Dominion Trot rankings. Both races, limited to 15 starters, will held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Akuta, who also won the 2022 Hannon, was 10th in the rankings before the weekend. He is now seventh. It was his second win this campaign after a long lay-off with a tendon injury. Dalton Shard and Renegade who finished second and fourth in the Group…
Cam Hart in form ahead of New Zealand Cup
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk As he vies for a record-equaling third IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup win with Swayzee, Cameron Hart is a man in form right now. The 26-year-old, who steered Swayzee to back to back wins in this country’s biggest race in 2023 and 2024, had a personal best six wins at Menangle in Sydney on Saturday night. “It’s pretty crazy,” he said after his record haul. “It’s a big thrill to get six and for three different trainers who have all been big supporters…
Merlin opens $2.35 favourite in Friday’s Spring Cup at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin The “frenemies” will be at it again in the IRT Spring Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night but this time they will have a lot of stablemates for company. Defending champion Sooner The Bettor will have found memories of last season’s Spring Cup as he beat stablemate and constant travelling companion Merlin. This does not happen often. Usually Merlin is too fast for his perfectly-mannered mate, although Menangle is the one place Sooner The Bettor also seems to close the gap. They are back at it…