Author: NZHarnessNews

Now that many of the very best horses are coming out to play we are regularly updating what’s happening at the trials right around the country. Here’s the latest installment. The Addington Trials Wed 27th SeptemberWeather Raining and cold and windy / Track Easy Patani (2c Father Patrick – Sagan) The Hope trained 2yo trotter trailed before improving to lead 1000m out, extended nicely last 300m and in the end 4 1/2L clear of rivals. MR:2:07.9, 800m in 61.9, 400m in 29.1. Only the two race day starts so far…

By Jonny Turner Bring On The Muscle has only had one start but he has already formed some great habits. The two-year-old came into race 2 at Gore yesterday having won five out of his five appearances at the trials and workouts. The trotter kept his winning run going in his first attempt at the races, when putting away a field of more seasoned rivals by three lengths. Despite just being a baby in racing terms, the Clark Barron trained Bring On The Muscle raced like a true professional when…

By Michael Guerin Have we finally found a serious challenger to unbeaten filly Millwood Nike? Mantra Blue’s stunning recovery performance to win the Nevele R 50 Years of Success heat at Cambridge on Thursday night suggests we might have, even if trainer Zachary Butcher is trying to keep a lid on expectations. Having just her third start Mantra Blue not only looked in trouble having to start from the outside of the front line but her winning chances should have ended soon after the start as she was checked, pushed…

By Michael Guerin Don’t let the shock driver change for B D Joe put you off the favourite in Friday’s $60,000 Canterbury Classic at Addington. The 2600m standing start race sees the road to the New Zealand Trotting Cup get far steeper as three of the biggest names in pacing Akuta, Self Assured and Krug resume in a capacity field. While that trio will all improve with their outings any could win without surprising but the fitter stablemates B D Joe and Aardie’s Express have an obvious advantage. That comes…

By Jonny Turner The two favourites for the New Zealand Cup are set to take the build-up for the great race up a notch at Addington on Friday night. Akuta and Self Assured return to racing for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon to make up a capacity field for the Group 2 Canterbury Classic. The two superstars have taken exactly the same path back to the races and they head into their resumptions very closely matched. “I think they are very much in the same boat,” Mark Purdon said. “They…

By Michael Guerin Trainer Derek Balle knows a good trotter when he sits behind one and he thinks juvenile Dreams Pat fits that bill. The two-year-old will be vying for favouritism when he has just his third start in the $20,000 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes Prelude at Cambridge tonight, for which his three-quarter brother Paramount Kiwi is the favourite. The pair met last start at Alexandra Park and Paramount Kiwi was excellent on debut, wearing down favourite The Moonstone in a 58.4 last 800m to rate just a tick over…

By Michael Guerin Star northern three-year-old Merlin is nearly ready to resume his battles with Don’t Stop Dreaming even after missing a workout last weekend. But he faces going into the next round of their arch rivalry without a race under his belt whereas Don’t Stop Dreaming will be back on the track at Addington this Friday. Merlin was down to trial at Pukekohe on Saturday but senior trainer Barry Purdon opted to wait a week. “There was nothing wrong with him we just thought a good hit out this…

In the latest in his one-on-one series Greg O’Connor talks to Malcolm Shinn.