By Michael Guerin Trainer Ray Green has a surprise bonus for southern harness fans as he starts to plot Copy That’s road to a record-equalling third New Zealand Cup. Because that road is going to run predominantly through the two big South Island lead-up races, setting up some mouth-watering clashes with Self Assured and Akuta. Copy That has been back doing serious hoppled work for a week and Green says he has a lot to work with. “He has come back big and round because he really can put weight…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Official Notice re Breeding Incentive Scheme
After receiving a number of enquiries from breeders, Harness Racing New Zealand wishes to clarify aspects of the Breeding Incentive Scheme (BIS). Introduced last year, the scheme will not be continued for the 2023/24 season. But HRNZ wants to advise breeders that all outstanding credits will be honoured. Under the scheme a $1000 stallion service fee credit was given to the breeder for any mare that produced a microchipped foal in the 2022/23 season and then rebred the same mare or another mare in its place and obtained a 42-day…
Uptown Funk gets well-deserved spell
After a great run of early-winter form, Uptown Funk has headed off for a spell, though it’s planned he’ll back in time for some key assignments in November. It’s been quite the year for the Art Major three-year-old with three wins in nine starts, with his form justifying the faith shown in him by trainer Trent Yesberg at a young age. Yesberg secured Uptown Funk (Art Major – Uptown Attitude) at the 2021 NZ Bloodstock Yearling Sales. However his familiarity with the horse goes back further than that. While doing…
Brett’s Mate bounces back to secure second win
By Jonny Turner Kyle Cameron took a chance on Brett’s Mate and it paid off again at Addington on Sunday. The usually consistent trotter put a last-start mishap behind him with a faultless display to win race 7 for the trainer-driver. Cameron was offered Brett’s Mate as a young horse to train and race with breeder-owner John Allan and he took a chance on the trotter which is now paying off. “John offered me the horse and I didn’t have too many trotters at the time,” Cameron said. “I had…
Hope stable set to wheel out the big guns
By Michael Guerin The stars of the Hope racing stables are almost ready to return, and they are not all equine. Trainers Greg and Nina Hope have already welcomed back their three top trotters headlined by Muscle Mountain, who will be racing in a month. He will be joined in the Ordeal Cup at Addington by Anzac Cup winner Eurokash while Midnight Dash will be back even earlier, being set for the Basil Dean on August 25. But before the powerful squaregaiting squad returns the stable’s prodigal son makes his…
Aussie News – August 6
By Adam Hanilton Normality resumed when Leap To Farm returned to winning form in stunning style at Albion Park last night. Australasia’s most exciting pacer was made to earn it after sitting parked in quick time, but switched into another gear when asked to by trainer-driver Grant Dixon. Leap To Fame quickly put away the emerging leader Mr McLaren and zoomed clear to win by 10.1m in a slick 1min53.2sec mile rate for 2138m. It was just 1.2sec outside half-brother Swayzee’s track record, but he ran the time on the…
Talented youngster impresses with debut win at Addington
by Jonny Turner The Brent and Tim White stable rolled out another promising two-year-old at Addington on Friday night in Keto. The pacer impressed when both staying and sprinting to victory in his debut for driver Kimberly Butt. In making such a comprehensive first up win, Keto joins Shards Matrix and Commander Joe among an exciting two-year-old contingent the White stable have to aim at feature racing later in the year. “It is quite exciting with Shards Matrix and Commander Joe coming through, plus we will have Bluto, Lone Wolf…
True Confessions back into “competitive” race at Addington
By Jonny Turner A drop in class has True Confessions well placed at Addington on Sunday. The trotter has taken on two bigger targets recently and though she finished out of the money both times, trainer Tom Bagrie has been pleased with her efforts. After racing in a Winter Rewards Final and then the Darren DeFilippi Memorial, race 4 on Sunday looks a much easier assignment. “We chucked her in the deep end in the Darren DeFilippi and the Winter Rewards Final,” Bagrie said. “She went solid races for her,…
In-form trotters poised to pounce at Addington
By Jonny Turner Runner-up efforts in their last starts has put victory in the sights of two trotters stepping out at Addington on Friday night. The Regan Todd trained Lavra Solitaire looks to be honing in on a win after placing in her first two career starts. Lavra Solitaire has been rated the early second favourite ($3.20) for race 2. Todd is hoping he can bag a win for owner Kypros Kotzikos, who owns Lavros Lodge where he trains his team. “She has been going good races, manners are the…
Team Telfer juggles big team at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Reigning premiership-winning trainer Steve Telfer will try something different at Alexandra Park tonight and if he pulls it off he could dominate the programme. Telfer, who trains in partnership with his sister Amanda, already has the logical favourite in the main pace in Fernleigh Cash (R9, No.6) while he expects a far better performance from classy filly Aardiebytheseaside when she drops back in grade for race eight. “She was having her first start last week since racing only in two-year-old company and had to take on some…