By Michael Guerin Trainer Steven Reid has no concerns handing the reins on his stable star to a junior driver who has never sat behind her at Alexandra Park tonight. The Pukekohe trainer has managed to sneak his Group 1 winning filly Coastal Babe into the Hydroflow Mobile Pace tonight by using claiming junior driver Taitlyn Hanara, whose claim means the Rating 69 filly gets into the up to Rating 65 race. Coastal Babe will still have to start from the outside of the seven horses in the 2200m mobile…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Stormont and Rogerson team up with good chances at Alexandra Park
By Brigette Solomon Having recently joined Graeme Rogerson’s Hamilton stables, James Stormont will link up with three good each way chances at Alexandra Park tonight. Stormont returned north after a brief stint in Canterbury and joins the Rogerson Racing Team following Dylan Ferguson’s decision to go out on his own. “We’re very happy to have James on board, he’s a great bloke and he brings a great level of experience to our young team of horses,” says Rogerson. “The four runners tonight are all lovely horses and I think they…
IRT NZ Cup implications at Albion Park
By Adam Hamilton Early IRT New Zealand Cup markets could be reshaped by a race in a different country on Saturday night. Australia’s two best pacers, Leap To Fame and Swayzee, clash for the third time in their careers and connections of both continue to say they are targeting the $1m IRT NZ Trotting Cup in November, where Leap To Fame is currently a $2.30 favourite, with Swayzee at $6. Swayzee, who won last year’s NZ Cup for trainer Jason Grimson and driver Cam Hart, won his first clash with…
Geoff Dunn “hopeful” with team at Addington
By Mike Love Aylesbury trainer Geoff Dunn takes a trio of chances to the Addington Raceway meeting today, and two of them look likely to start favourite. “I am happy with them all. But they will all need some luck,” sad Dunn. In race 1, the Redpaths Suppliers Of Everything Electrical Mobile Pace over 2600m, Dunn lines up race favourite My Ten Guitars ($3.60FF). The four-year-old Downbytheseaside mare was gallant in defeat last week running second to Hoo Haa, and with a better draw today over a distance that suits,…
Dickie with strong book at Cambridge tonight
By Brigette Solomon South Auckland based driver Joshua Dickie has five drives tonight at Cambridge Raceway and is confident all can give strong performances. Dickie’s first drive is on the Brian and Gareth Hughes trained Grace N Elegance who starts in Race one, the Watchu Security Mobile Trot over 2200 metres. The five year old mare finished fourth here on the 20th June after being held up in the home straight. It wasn’t until the final 50 metres that she found clear running and let down with a strong run.…
Spy Da Moment the people’s choice at Addington tonight
By Mike Love Spy Da Moment, trainer Michael Ward and driver Ricky May will combine for what will be an emotional Avon City Ford Mobile Trot at Addington tonight (8.09pm). The winner of six races, Spy Da Moment was formerly owned and trained by the late Katie Cox, who lost her battle with lung cancer earlier this week. Michael Ward has taken over the training of the horse, who comes into tonight’s race off the back of a second fresh-up at Addington two weeks ago. “He’s come through that run…
Ricky May punters friend today
By Mike Love Mid Canterbury reinsman Ricky May heads to Addington today with a strong book of drives at the Coaster Howe racing stables race day. May, who sits 19th on the drivers premiership table with 22 wins so far this season, will take six drives on today’s eight race card. Monaro Meg ($10.00FF) for trainer Michael Heenan in race one the Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Steve and Di Little handicap trot kicks off May’s chances in what is an even maiden field. “I couldn’t fault her run the other…
Big team of chances for Williamson
By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson has chosen the right time to line up one of his biggest-ever teams at the races. Williamson brings nine runners south to Winton for Southland’s lucrative Winter Rewards Finals day on Saturday. While the trainer’s planning to have such a strong line up ready for such a big meeting has been pinpoint, Williamson couldn’t plan for the series of tricky barrier draws he has been handed. Even under preferential terms, the numbers haven’t exactly fallen Williamson’s way. But it may just mean the reinsman will…
Scholarship winner with good winning chances at Addington tonight too
By Michael Guerin An unexpected off-track victory has opened the door to what could ultimately be a new chapter in the career of outstanding junior driver Carter Dalgety. Dalgety is already one of the brightest stars in New Zealand harness racing who is also one of the fastest drivers ever to 100 wins in this country. All that, and two Group 1 wins, by the age of 21. The son of trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, Carter is always striving to improve which is one of the reasons he appplied…
Purdon’s dual Queensland attack
By Adam Hamilton Nathan Purdon’s attack on Queensland’s winter riches has slipped under the radar a bit, but he’s hoping to turn that around at Redcliffe on Saturday night. Purdon has runners in both the Oaks and Derby and is especially keen on his prospects with Major Hot in the $53,000 Group 3 Derby. The Art Major gelding, who opened his Queensland campaign with an Albion Park win on June 15, has been backed from $4.40 into $3.60 despite needing luck from an inside back row draw (gate seven). “He’s…