Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner The search for a deserved win takes Got You Covered to the return of harness racing at Riverton on Sunday. The pacer will be among the first fields of horses in almost 24 years to compete on the Riverton grass track when he starts as the favourite in the Riverton Cup. A second in the Group 3 Northern Southland Cup and a fourth in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup look outstanding form references to take to Riverton’s big day. Combine them with the Got You Covered’s outstanding…

Jonny Turner’s  selections for Riverton.                 Race   Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.20pm 2 California Dreaming5 Robyns Art4 Rotten Rodden1 Mechanical Bull   Race 212.46pm 2 Quercus Rubra9 Styrax3 Hail Stone4 Wattle Hill     Race 31.21pm 3 Pounamu5 Montage9 Peace Of Heaven1 Rakadeaks   Race 41.56pm 2 Blithe7 Night Watch14 Fiery Bandito8 Hot Saucy Betty  Race 52.21pm 6 Falcons Watch5 Nyla1 I’m Watching You2 Sly Tricks   Race 62.46pm 8 Got You Covered4 Moonlite Dream6 Hacksaw Ridge2 Itoje  Race 73.20pm 1 Bridget Louise11 Breeny’s…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Riverton    

By Jonny Turner Kyle Cameron hopes a new formula can be a winning one when Style Council shoots for a deserved victory at Methven on Sunday. Cameron heads to the Methven grass with three of his team, including Style Council who put in two excellent performances at the recent Blenheim meeting. The five-year-old hit the line strongly in both of his starts, running second on Friday and fifth on Sunday. The two good runs have come since Cameron has decided to Style Council with a sit, which isn’t always easy…

By Michael Guerin Scott Phelan isn’t sure whether he has trained four winners on a night before but he knows he had never trained five. Until last night. Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon dominated Friday night’s Alexandra Park card training five winners from six races they had reps in, winning all the pacing races they contested. They also produced two quinellas, with stable star Merlin once again beating Sooner The Better in the main pace even after having to work early. Three-year-olds Better Knuckle Up and Escape Artist…

By Michael Guerin The trainers set to completely dominate Alexandra Park tonight say their biggest gun is ready to fire. If you saw dual Derby winner Merlin at last week’s trials you would agree. The exceptional four-year-old headlines the first Alexandra Park meeting for 2024 as he starts to hone down toward a Sydney campaign that could include the Chariots Of Fire (March 2) and, if he wins that, the A$1million Miracle Mile a week later. Merlin hasn’t raced since winning the NZ Derby at Addington on December 10 but…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson shares his thoughts on Auckland   

Some real X factor’s been confirmed for Monday’s Cross Code Challenge at Cambridge Raceway. The $40,000 Group 3 Waikato Trotting Breeders Stakes is the day’s feature and in between races the Cross Code Challenge will be held, with Team Standardbred taking on Team Thoroughbred. Included in the schedule is a dual sulky race that will see some great match-ups. Star jockey Opie Bosson and gun driver Zachary Butcher have been paired in one dual sulky, and will take on the likes of the Group 1 winners (jockey) Ryan Elliot and…

By Jonny Turner Eion Latimer was thrilled to see Wavewatcher live up to his potential and finally break maidens at Oamaru yesterday. Despite showing his trainer plenty of promise much earlier in his career, it took until the four-year-old’s 20th start for him to finally deliver on it. Plenty of head-scratching has gone on at Latimer’s Oamaru stable following Wavewatcher’s defeats. But recently, that has all but ended thanks to the help of veterinarian Richard Turner. “I think he will end up being the best horse I have trained, but…