Author: NZHarnessNews

The 2023/24 season gets underway today, with stakes increasing by nearly $5m. Base funding will increase by just under $3m with all races falling into one of seven categories. Funding will start at $10,500 for Provincial Low Key races to $30,000 for races during New Zealand Cup week. Clubs will decide how they allocate their base funding. Also from today two new breeders’ schemes will come into effect. The Fillies and Mares credit scheme : Each filly/mare who finishes Top 3 in a Fillies and Mares only race will receive…

By Michael Guerin Training legend Graeme Rogerson may be planning a dual-code raid on Australian Group 1 riches this spring but don’t expect his top harness horses to become best mates with galloping star Sharp N Smart. While dual-code trainers are nothing new in New Zealand and have become even more common in recent years Rogerson has taken that to a whole new level. Not only is he a 12-time NZ thoroughbred premiership winning trainer but went close to winning the harness premiership once and, now training with Dylan Ferguson,…

By Jonny Turner Robbie Holmes completed a weekend of dual code success when Kiwi Record ran to victory at Addington on Sunday. Holmes sent Kiwi Record straight to the lead in race 3 before the three-year-old fought off his challengers to score. The pacer is the third generation of winners trained and driven by Holmes for his co-owners and breeders Hamish Scott and Dr Kim Lawson. Holmes trained Kiwi Record’s dam Kiwi On Show and the pacer’s granddam, the classy mare Kiwi Ingenuity. Kiwi On Show didn’t reach the heights…

By Adam Hamilton High class former Kiwi colt Son Of Mac kept his unbeaten Aussie record intact with a stunning Melton victory last Friday night. Trained and driven by Kyle Marshall, Son Of Mac went straight to the front from gate two but really bowled along on his way to a 13.6m win. The mile rate was a slick 1min54.5sec, which is way above average for his grade. It compares to Captain Ravishing’s 1min51.1sec track record from the Breeders Crown final last November. “He’s got one more run at Melton…

by Jonny Turner A drop in class at Addington on Sunday can help Boudica get reward for the many miles she has travelled this year. The Blenheim mare produced a tidy last start third behind American Me at the same track and she has hit the road again in the hope she can go two places better for trainer Tony Thomas. That last start effort came after the mare had been freshened and after she had raced in tougher fields and the run pleased Thomas. “I was quite happy with…

By Michael Guerin Friday may have been Winter Rewards night at Alexandra Park but Chanelle Lawson’s reward came nearly two years ago. It just started paying dividends on Friday. Lawson is not only a well-known photographer in harness racing, including having her work regularly published by HRNZ, but she is a long-time staff member at Tony Herlihy’s stables. It was because of that loyalty and quality of work Herlihy sprung a surprise on her two years ago. “Tony pulled me aside one day and said they had two weanling fillies…