Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner Olivia Thornley will get to find out how much more speed and power her favourite horse has developed at Addington on Friday night. Thornley reunites with New Zealand Oaks winner No Matter Wat who returns from a spell in race 3. Despite working at Mark and Nathan Purdon’s stable, Thornley hasn’t had a first-hand feel of how much the four-year-old might have improved with her break. “From all reports they are really happy with her trackwork,” Thornley said. “She is one that Michael Purdon’s partner Allison does…

Nominations have only just opened and already two Australian visitors could be involved in the IRT New Zealand Cup. Multiple Group 1 winner Spirit of St Louis and Loyalist have both been nominated for the country’s premier race, at Addington on Tuesday, November 14. Spirit Of St Louis, who’s part owned by well known racing personality Trevor Casey and Otago trainer Graeme Anderson, has long been a proven top level performer and has 26 wins from 62 starts. The Sweet Lou gelding had eight wins from 19 starts in this…

By Dave Di Somma Champion Kiwi driver Blair Orange has slipped back to eighth place heading into the last day of the world drivers’ championships in Europe. On day three in Belgium Orange had a third, a fourth, two sixths and a disqualification to be on 89 points, 50 behind runaway leader and defending champion Rick Ebbinge from the Netherlands. Orange was fourth after day two, the halfway mark. There is a close race behind Ebbinge with Australia’s Peter McMullen on 106 points, one ahead of Hanna Huygens from Belgium…

By Michael Guerin The chances of the Wallis-Hackett stable continuing their golden Alexandra Park trotting season have increased even before tonight’s meeting begins. The perennial leading trotting stable in the north are already up to 21 trotting winners this season and will have six of the eight starters in the feature trot on Thursday. That includes Springbank Mason and All Cashed Up, both off a 40m handicap, from where they could have struggled to catch greatly-improved front marker Ilsas Son. The latter was chasing his fifth win from six starts…

Addington Raceway is pleased to announce that the nominations for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup, Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and Graphite Developments Ltd / Glenys & Philip Kennard Show Day Futurity Pace are now open. The two feature races are the biggest races at Addington Raceway for the year and part of the biggest week in harness racing in Australasia. To see more information click here  To see Addington Raceway’s feature race information click here 

Here’s Greg O’Connor with the latest Addington News. 

By Michael Guerin One of the giant killers of pacing is heading to Victoria to prepare for the New Zealand Cup. Cambridge pacer Kango and his trotting stablemate Virginia Clowers will travel together to Victoria for trainer Arna Donnelly. “I think it is a really good way for him to have good, consistent racing with some good stakes,” says Donnelly “So he will head over soon and if he is racing well in a month or six weeks he could contest the Victoria Cup (October 14) but even if he…

Exciting northern pacer The Big Lebowski is facing a lengthy rehabilitation after damaging a tendon. After winning his Alexandra Park debut in May by 11 lengths the giant pacer had created quite the impression since moving north earlier this year. Now a scan has confirmed he’ll be out of action for between three and six months, and his New Zealand Cup chances are over. To see the full story click here