By Jonny Turner The careers of several talented horses are set to get underway in a red-hot maiden field at Wyndham on Thursday. Punters have plenty of talent to choose from with a promising line up of horses assembled for race 5 at the Gore meeting. Always On Sale, Itoje, Ramblin Rover, Gunner Andy and Secret Potion have each shown their share of ability when trialling ahead of their debuts. While they have already made their debuts, Artmore, Glenkenick, Summit Ultra and Captain Meister have each shown they are well…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Stormont settling into his new life
By Rob Courtney Respected northern horseman James Stormont, by his own admission, is a ‘no fuss’ kinda guy and tries to avoid the limelight. With 1284 driving wins,from 1988, and 227 successes as a trainer (from 1995) behind him, Stormont has now been living in Canterbury for the last two months. Based at Pukekohe for most of his adult working life and having just finished a stint with Stonewall Stud, by word of mouth, he recently responded to a job vacancy within the Fred Fletcher stable at Weedons. “I’ve never…
The Fillies’ quest for Cup day glory starts now
This Friday Addington Raceway holds its “Road to the Cup” race night. But it also marks the official start of the prestigious 2023 Nevele R Fillies series which will culminate in the $140,000 Group 1 final at Addington on IRT NZ Cup day, Tuesday November 14. “You look back at past winners and the series is like a roll call of our best three-year-old fillies, Armalight won it in 1980, Kate’s First in 1997 and of course she went on to win the Auckland Cup the same year, and horse…
Mossdale Ben earns New Zealand Cup nomination with Kurow Cup win
By Jonny Turner The New Zealand Cup got another contender when Mossdale Ben produced a powerful victory in the Kurow Cup at Oamaru yesterday. The Greg and Nina Hope trained pacer rounded up a quality field with ease to give driver Ben Hope his first win in New Zealand since May. After handling his first standing start well and producing a slick victory, the Hope camp now plan to nominate Mossdale Ben for the New Zealand Cup and give him his chance to show whether he can foot it with…
Aussie News – August 20
By Adam Hamilton Reigning Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo has put behind him a career-derailing NZ campaign and looks right back on song. Winless in seven runs since winning last year’s Victoria Cup, trainer-driver Mick Stanley gave the brilliant pacer a long spell and, judging by his stunning return, it certainly worked. Rock N Roll Doo’s barnstorming third to star mare Encipher in last Saturday night’s Westburn Grant free-for-all (2240m) at Melton was off the charts. He was clocked to go a low 53sec last half, much of…
Eureka field confirmed and Victorians dominate
by Adam Hamilton The field for the world’s richest harness race is complete. Victorians dominant Saturday week’s $2.1mil TAB Eureka on numbers with half the 10-horse field trained in the state, headed by Miracle Mile winner Catch A Wave. The other Victorians through are: Queensland Derby winner The Lost Storm, star mare Encipher, the gifted Captain Ravishing and now emerging three-year-old Captain Hammerhead. The last slot, that of John Singleton, went to the David Moran-trained Captain Hammerhead when he upstaged some older and more fancied rivals to brilliantly win last…
Bluto looms as massive chance in Kurow Cup
By Jonny Turner Don’t be surprised if Bluto has a swagger in his step ahead of the Kurow Cup at Oamaru on Sunday. The Brent and Tim White trained pacer returns from a freshen up to take on a new challenge in the 2600m feature. The three-year-old will face the standing start tapes for the first time after stepped away cleanly in a recent trial. The White camp now hope Bluto can do the same under the pressures of race day. “We had a good go with him on Thursday…
Orange finishes eighth at WDC
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk New Zealand champion Blair Orange has finished eighth at the world drivers’ championship in Europe. The fourth and final day of the championships was held in Berlin with Rick Ebbinge from the Netherlands becoming just the second driver to go back to back, joining Norway’s Ulf Thoresen in 1979 and 81. The defending champion went into the final day with a 33 point lead and held on to win by 13 points from fast finishing Canadian Doug McNair, who had two wins, a…
Harrison’s “huge thrill” with first win
By Jonny Turner Riley Harrison showed she can rate the pace when winning her first race with Outamyway at Addington on Friday night. The 22-year-old junior driver rated her trotter perfectly in front and she looked to be in full control of race 5. But Harrison admitted she had a few nerves as she set the tempo with her charge, who was a well backed favourite. “I have had never been in front before, so I was a bit nervous that I was setting the right pace.” “It was a…
Herlihy has 3YO training-driving double at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Tony Herlihy has two smart three-year-olds on his hands and he is going to let both Jethro Bodine and Bettor Heist tell him just how smart. The pair gave Herlihy a training double at Alexandra Park on Thursday night, both using gate speed to trail then the passing lane for impressive victories. For Jethro Bodine it was three wins on end while for Bettor Heist it was three of his last four, the only loss coming when he raced waywardly three starts ago. “They are both turning…