By Brigette Solomon With seven drives at tonight’s meeting at Cambridge Raceway Peter Ferguson reckons he’s got one winner at least – and probably more. And the one he’s circling is Sweet Lou three-year-old filly Wicked Wanda who fronts up against just five other rivals in Race 8, the IRT Your Horse, Our Passion Mobile Pace over 1700m. A winner of one from 10, Wicked Wanda’s recent form makes for compelling reading. The Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson trained filly most recently ran second when beaten just 1.8m by the…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Raklou rated big chance on race day return
By Jonny Turner Outstanding filly Raklou will make her return to racing a little later than first planned at Wyndham today. The Peter Hunter trained two-year-old showed outstanding talent as well as plenty of grit and determination when stringing together three wins in the autumn. Raklou looked destined for top-level racing in the spring and it is hoped that race 1 at Wyndham will be a springboard for that. But not everything has gone completely to plan this time in and today’s outing will give Hunter a real line on…
Stars fly in a month out from IRT New Zealand Cup
Some very serious horsepower has been safely delivered to Christchurch from the North Island, and the majority of them will be in action as early as Addington on Friday night. With New Zealand Cup and Show Week now only a month away, a total of 16 standardbreds have arrived on a flight from Auckland organised by IRT (International Racehorse Transport). Among them was star trotter Bolt For Brilliance (pictured above), who will renew his rivalry with Muscle Mountain in the Dancinginthedark M Canterbury Park Trotting Club on Friday night. The…
News briefs : October 11
Change of plan for Old Town Road The second favourite for the IRT New Zealand Cup is set to take a different path to the great race. Old Town Road moved into $5 for the Cup with his come-from-last win when returning at Alexandra Park last Friday and initially trainer John Dickie thought he would take the wonderful pacer to Ashburton for the Flying Stakes. But Dickie has had a change of heart and Ashburton’s loss is likely to be Kaikoura’s gain.“We were going to go to Ashburton but I…
The Box Seat – October 11
Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for this week’s edition of The Box Seat.
Two expert opinions on Addington’s big Friday night
The fields are out for what is shaping up as an epic night’s racing at Addington on Friday. So we asked two of our experts, Jonny Turner and Michael Guerin for their thoughts – who’s fared well in the draws, and who’s fared poorly? Jonny Turner : The stars are likely to have to do it the hard way on a huge night of harness racing at Addington on Friday. Second row draws have been handed to several key runners as a mass of young talent from across the country…
Just one heat to go in key Sires’ Stakes features before IRT NZ Cup and Show Week
Not only did Millwood Nike’s win at Addington last Thursday extend her unbeaten run it also secured her a place in the Group 1 Nevele R 50 Years of Success Fillies Final on IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. It was a powerhouse effort from the mighty filly and driver Olivia Thornley in Heat 6 of the series, after sitting parked most of the way. She is now unbeaten in all 15 career starts, and is clearly the one to beat in the Final. With just…
“Aunty” Ayumi’s shot at Harness Million glory
By Brigette Solomon Ayumi Shibuya has her flights booked, and can’t wait for the Harness Million race night at Addington on Friday. That’s because “Aunty” Ayumi, as she’s known, is a co-owner in the very promising Le Major, a top contender for the NZB Standardbred Harness Million No 4 for the 2YO Colts and Geldings. Trained by Arna Donnelly at Cambridge, Le Major has been impressive winning his last three starts, including two heats of the Woodlands Stud 2YO Sires’ Stakes. So it’s fair to say Shibuya has good reason…
Aussies continue countdown to IRT New Zealand Cup
By Adam Hamilton The two key Aussie hopes for next month’s New Zealand Cup step-out on Saturday night. Decorated Grand Circuit performer Spirit Of St Louis steps into elite company in the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton. His rivals include the likes of Leap To Fame, Catch A Wave, Honolua Bay, Rock N Roll Doo, Encipher and Better Eclipse. Co-trainer Luke McCarthy has openly declared the stable’s intent to focus on the New Zealand Cup after this week’s feature. In an interesting move, Swayzee returns to racing for…
One-on-one with Zachary Butcher
In the final episode of this series Greg O’Connor goes one-on-one with Zachary Butcher.