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…
Author: NZHarnessNews
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…
Macca Lodge take four to Winton today
By Jonny Turner Macca Lodge could get rewarded for their great support of southern harness racing at Winton on Thursday. The Northern Southland stud and stables will start four horses at Central Southland Raceway three days before they again sponsor the Group 3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup. Co-proprietor Brent McIntyre is rapt with the depth of the Northern Southland Cup field and just about as pleased with his four-strong Winton squad. McIntyre and his stable head Carl Hanna will combine with maiden trotter Raffie Jay in Thursday’s opener. The…
Kyle Cameron with “bit of hope” at Addington today
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Kyle Cameron doesn’t know what to expect at Addington today. The Fernside-based trainer-driver will take two of his own to the races in Style Council (R1) and Special Edition (R5) and also drive Natives Inferno (R2), Prince Teka (R4) and Hez A Loch (R7). “You could easily see a few of them run in three or none of them run in three,” says Cameron, “but at least we’ve got a bit of hope.” In Race 1, the Diamond Racing Lot 54 Shares Available…