By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Blair Orange has climbed four places up the leaderboard at the world drivers’ championship in Europe. Day two of the championships was held at Gelsenkirchen in Germany, with the five-time Kiwi champion driver winning one heat and finishing seventh, third, eighth and fifth in the others. That gave him a total of 65 points at the halfway point of the competition, putting him fourth overall after being eighth after the opening day’s racing. Defending champion Rick Ebbinger from the Netherlands is the driver…
Author: NZHarnessNews
The plan to keep Millwood Nike unbeaten in 2023
By Michael Guerin Young training star Nathan Purdon thinks he knows what the code needs and punters could do worse than backing his judgement. Purdon is in charge of much of the day-to-day running of the famous All Stars racing stable he now shares with his father Mark. The pair have an army of harness stars including two of our best pacers in Self Assured and Akuta but they also have unbeaten filly Millwood Nike and Nathan says he wants her to remain that way and not just for her…
Orange “pretty happy” after opening day of World Drivers’ Championship
By Dave Di Somma A second placing in the fifth and final race highlighted Kiwi champion Blair Orange’s opening day at the World Drivers’ Championships in the Netherlands. The championships, featuring 10 drivers from all around the globe, kicked off with five races at Victoria Park Wolvega. Competing at his first ever world driving championships, Orange, the five-time New Zealand premiership winner, started well with a fourth in his first drive. He followed that up with a fourth in the third race as well before a second in the fifth…
Aussie News – August 13
By Adam Hamilton When Chris Lang gets excited about a trotter, it pays to take notice. And Lang is seriously excited about his Kiwi-bred five-year-old Ollivici. After a campaign where he didn’t fire, Lang spelled the son of former classy Kiwi trotting mare Belle Galleon and it’s proven a masterstroke. “He’s come back the horse I’ve always hoped he would be,” he said. “I’ll be very surprised if he’s not up with the best this campaign.” Ollivici defied a baffling betting drift ($2.20 to $3.50) to lead throughout and turn…
Selections | Ashburton
Jonny Turner’s selections for Ashburton today. Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist Race 112.45pm 7 Premium Player2 Monsignor9 Sinner Cool5 Brian Beatt Race 21.10pm 2 Macy Black7 Seacracka10 Wuhan11 Prides Contessa Race 31.35pm 3 Franco Messi6 Mark My Worlds7 Choco Lou2 Not Over Race 42.09pm 8 Bologna9 Forever Me10 Spiritual Bliss7 Mayson Shard Race 52.36pm 3 Miley Ace2 Rushkinoff8 Montoya12 Corfu Bromac Race 63.01pm 6 Buffy Northstains3 Rachmaninov10 Aiguille11 Paige Race 73.30pm 1 Ron McKinley4 Doctor Tim7 Ruby’s A Delight3 Foveaux Gambler Race…
Cox with two good chances at Ashburton
By Jonny Turner Katie Cox has the chance to continue her outstanding winter form at Ashburton on Sunday. Cox has produced a strong strike-rate as both a trainer and driver this season, with her efforts over the recent months providing a good boost to her numbers. The trainer-driver will be out to notch another win when Monsignor has his second start at the races at Ashburton in race 1. The trotter comes into his assignment after producing a faultless debut win at Addington. “He did go nice first up and…
Third win this campaign for Galleons Ambassador
By Jonny Turner Galleons Ambassador again showed her troubles are well and truly behind her when running to an easy win at Addington on Friday night. The trotter made it win number three of her latest campaign when sweeping past an intermediate field to score for trainer-driver John Morrison. Galleons Ambassador raced through the summer without quite being able to reach the heights she has recently. Morrison credits the trotter’s brilliant winter form to her putting a series of niggles in the rear-view. “She is going really good now, it’s…
What a way to bring up 300 wins
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Andre Poutama’s an old hand when it comes to dead heats. “I’m used to it now,” he laughs. While many can drive a whole career without ever getting one dead heat Poutama, at just 31, has now had two with last night’s win at Cambridge also bringing up a significant milestone, his 300th victory. He led with Leo Lincoln in the IRT Your Horse. Our Passion Mobile Pace and looked set to win outright before Tim Williams launched the favourite Cassius Clyde from…
Dont Ask delivers in style at Winton
By Jonny Turner There weren’t just celebrations between trainer Alister Black and driver Matthew Williamson following Dont Ask’s impressive win at Winton yesterday. The trotter produced one of the performances of the day as southern harness racing returned following its annual winter hiatus. Dont Ask had been consistent through the autumn without producing the kind of sparkling performance she did yesterday. Black put the effort down to him finding the key to keeping the mare calm before her race. “We tried one of those (compression) hoods on her today and…
Clear Left gives Crystal Hackett her 50th win
By Michael Guerin Cambridge maiden winner Clear Left has a lot to live up to but he has at least started off on the right hoof. The son of Art Major was a winner at just his second start on Thursday night, clinging on to beat Rockafilly in the hands of Crystal Hackett, giving the in-form young driver her 50th career success, half of those this year. Trainer John Dickie says the win won’t be Clear Left’s last as he is at the improving stage of his young career but…