By Jonny Turner An autumn and winter of longtime maidens breaking through for success continued when Sir Monty scored at Addington on Sunday in his 50th attempt. The five-year-old’s gate speed helped driver Sam Thornley secure him a sweet trip in the trail before he sprinted up the passing lane to win the Bev Little Memorial. By recent standards, breeder-owner-trainer Gavin Turner didn’t have to be too patient. Sly Tricks broke through in his 85th start recently, while Santeria made it win one in her 64th start late last month.…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Black Mach best of Thornley’s chances at Addington
By Jonny Turner Black Mach heads the tidy book of drives Sam Thornley combines with at Addington on Sunday. Thornley will be out to rack up another win for his boss Ken Barron when Black Mach starts in a junior drivers assignment. Black Mach scored for Thornley at Addington a month ago and the reinsman has given the five-year-old the nod as his best chance on Sunday. “I’d have to say Black Mach, he has been going pretty good races and he is quite a tough horse.” “The draw (8)…
Sweethomealabama on song in winning debut
By Jonny Turner Sweethomealabama continued the outstanding association between trainer Mark Jones and owner Wayne Higgs with his debut victory at Addington on Friday night. The two-year-old was heavily supported and he didn’t let his backers down when he cleared out to score by three and a half lengths. Though the pacer clearly has ability, Jones admitted he isn’t sure exactly how much the progressive Sweethomealabama has, just yet. “He is a nice wee horse, he does everything right and he’s quite professional,” Jones said. “We don’t know how good…
Hackett goes four from four at Cambridge
by Brigette Solomon It was a night to remember for Crystal Hackett – four winners from four drives. At Cambridge last night the 19-year-old, who’s in just her second full season of driving, produced a career best performance. “It was a great night, I’m still buzzing and I’m very grateful to everyone who puts me on and trusts me in the bike!” says Hackett. The first of those wins came in Race 1, on Ilsa’s Son trained by Hackett’s employers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan. “He went well, I went…
Hat-trick on cards for Beach Flybye tonight
By Jonny Turner Beach Flybye faces the toughest test of his winter campaign at Addington on Friday night and driver Tim Williams thinks he is up to it. The Stonewall Stud pacer will be out to make it three-from-three this time in when he steps up in grade to race hardy types in race 7. He’s currently a $1.90 favourite. With a new harness racing calendar year and the spring and summer loaded with age group features, most talented three-year-olds are yet to return to the track. But Beach Flybye…
Key details confirmed for Junior Drivers’ events
The dates for three key Junior Drivers’ competitions have been confirmed. Between October 2023 and February 2024 there will be the New Zealand Junior Drivers’ Championships, the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship and the Hygain Revell Douglas Memorial Series. NZ Junior Drivers’ Championship : The 2023 New Zealand Junior Drivers’ Championship will be held over an action-packed three days in October. The races will be held at Addington (Thursday, October 5), followed by Ascot Park in Invercargill the following day and then the finale at Methven on Sunday, October 8.…
Aardie’s Express back and with lofty goals
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The Express is back, and her trainers have big plans. After a sensational three-year-old season that saw her win eight of nine starts, Aardie’s Express successfully negotiated yesterday’s trials at Rangiora, with co-trainer Amanda Telfer saying the ultimate goal is the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, November 14. “That’s the plan, we think quite a lot of her and as long as she stays sound we think that’s realistic,” says co-trainer Amanda Telfer. Yesterday was all part of that. After having all her…
It’s all the threes at Cambridge tonight
by Brigette Solomon There’ll be plenty of inter-stable rivalry at Cambridge tonight, with three different trainers lining up three runners in their respective races. Nicky Chilcott has the most at the meeting with six runners, including three – Alwaysbelove, Vincents Girl, and Messenger Buoy – in Race 2, The Tote Burger Mobile Pace over 2200m. “The maidens have all raced well to date and I’ll expect all three could be in the mix” says Chilcott. Alwaysbelove was third on debut, while Vincents Girl was runner-up a fortnight ago. All three…
News Briefs – July 5
100th win for Katie Cox Katie Cox has chalked up her 100th driving success. It came with with debutant Palatable in race 4 at Addington last Friday night, only for Time Up The Hill to give her win number 101 later in the night. Both winners were trained by Michael Ward. Cox has had seven wins this year, including a Group 2 success with It’s Tough in the Welcome Stakes. The Canterbury-based Cox also has 30 wins as a trainer. Top trotters now with Team Dunn The premiership leading team…
Leah Hibell returns home after “amazing experience”
By Brigette Solomon Cambridge-based junior driver Leah Hibell has just returned from her first international adventure, enthused and inspired by what’s she seen. The 23-year-old was awarded a 10-day working holiday in Australia for winning the second annual Revell Douglas Memorial series earlier this year. The series for junior drivers is a tribute to well-respected trainer and administrator Revell Douglas, who drowned at Karioitahi Beach near Waiuku in January 2021. She spent her time at the stables of Brisbane trainers Chantal Turpin and Peter McMullen. Exciting and nerve wracking are words…