Author: NZHarnessNews

TAB NZ has announced that it has selected Entain as its preferred partner for a 25-year strategic partnering arrangement. The proposed strategic arrangement remains subject to Ministerial approval. The specific terms of the arrangement remain commercially confidential until approval is granted. To view the TAB’s press release click here :  

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk And then there were three. When Gerard O’Reilly took out the Waimate Cup with Tom Martin at Oamaru on Sunday he became the third O’Reilly sibling to do so, joining brothers Patrick and Leo. “I wasn’t aware of that,” says Gerard O’Reilly, “but to win any Cup you must be doing well.” His pre-race plan in the Whitestone Livestock Waimate Cup (3000m) was to ensure a decent tempo and make it hard for the backmarkers, and that’s exactly how it worked out. Tom…

A funding boost has been announced for 230 races for May, June and July. For those three months races that are currently funded at $8,100 will be increased to $9,000. “The new rate will apply to races, right around the country,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chair John Coulam, “and we are very pleased that it has come about.” Last year the TAB reduced funding to all three racing codes by a total of $15m. HRNZ was impacted to the tune of $4.4m. In response, it decided to use $2.1m of…

By Jonny Turner Kevin McClintock showed he hadn’t lost his winning touch when scoring his first driving success in more than 27 years at Oamaru yesterday. McClintock weaved a winning passage for Evidently who held off a late challenge from runner-up Foveaux Gambler to win race 1 on Waimate Cup day. The victory for trainer and good friend Peter Holmes was McClintock’s first since he won as a fully-fledged with Royal Honour at Marlborough in 1995. Now an amateur reinsman, McClintock was thrilled he could secure a victory for Holmes.…

by Jonny Turner What happens in the split seconds after the tapes fly could decide whether Homebush Lad adds the Waimate Cup to his outstanding grass track resume. The Greg and Nina Hope trained veteran starts from the back mark of 45m in the 3000m grass track feature at Oamaru. Clearly the kind of beginning Homebush Lad can make from his handicap will have a huge impact on his chances. Settling in front of key rivals, who also start from handicap marks, will be the key to whether Homebush Lad…

by Jonny TurnerThree-Year-Olds Cormac Leo and Coney Island Lou both called on their big motors to run to impressive wins at Addington on Friday night. Trainer-driver Craig Ferguson unleashed Cormac Leo who could not have been more impressive in his debut victory in race 3. Being caught wide early mattered little to the pacer who also shrugged off plenty of pressure inside the final 800m when scoring like a horse with a big future. Cormac Leo was sent south to Ferguson by owners Bruce Barnett and Ricki Herbert after former…

by Michael Guerin Friday was a good day for Ray Green and he is hoping a Friday a few weeks away is even better. Green’s stable star Copy That got the perfect confidence-boosting win in the $45,000 City Of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park, easily wresting the lead from Kango early and then controlling the race. He only sprinted up the straight in the hands of Blair Orange to hold out Kango with Smiffy’s Terror third as the leaders dominated, aided by Self Assured and Alta Wiseguy locking wheels at…

by Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk The connections of Cold Chisel have certainly developed a winning formula when it comes to the Gr.2 Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m). Trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, driver Zachary Butcher, and owner Dean Shannon of Montana Park Pty Ltd, have combined to win the last three editions of the race. Montana DJ kicked off their golden run in 2021, followed by Merlin, who was victorious in the Gr.1 Northern Derby (2700m) on Friday night before Cold Chisel completed the hat-trick…

by Michael Guerin Don’t be fooled by the small margin Merlin scaped home by in Friday night’s $135,000 Woodlands Derby. Because driver Zachary Butcher is adamant the quality colt could have won the classic by a lot more had he wanted. “That is just him, he doesn’t like running away from horses and just switches off,” said Butcher after his first win in the great race. “When we got the passing lane he put half a length on them but then he pulled up. It is not like he is…