Budding junior driver Kate Coppins heads to Cambridge Raceway tonight with a strong book of four drives, and plenty of reasons to be optimistic. She kicks off her night in Race 1, the Christmas At The Raceway Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot (5:41p.m.) aboard President Flynntin. The pair have been in a rich vein of form lately, booking a cheque in all their last four starts. This season has been the geldings most successful yet, amassing two wins and a further seven placings, all of which with Coppins in the…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Six to watch: Trial form and pedigree point to strong week ahead
These 6 horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week they head back to the racetrack. American Falcon (2c American Ideal – Tania Tandias) Trainer: Matthew White Only qualified late June at ‘The Park’ when he led throughout in a 4 horse heat and looked to have plenty still to give running a 2:04MR, 800m in 57.9, 400m in 28.3.Backed that up with an unlucky debut run (11/7/25) when 3rd to Craftsman whom he had beaten in the earlier trial. 2nd up at Auckland this Friday in Race 2…
Tayla Duley has first driving success
by Mike Love Tayla Duley recorded her first driving success yesterday at Addington when Denver took out the Seahorse Supplements Proudly NZ Owned mobile trot over 1980m. Not only was it Duley’s first driving success, but the win was also her first success as an owner, giving the win even more significance. “It’s good, I’m wrapt. The first horse I’ve owned as well. My mates, the owners, my partner and grandparents are all there. So it’s pretty special,” said Duley in a post race interview with Nigel Armstrong. Duley did…
Records, rivalries, and Kiwi success on Inter Dominion night
by Adam Hamilton Leap To Fame targets New Zealand Cup after Inter Dominion win The focus turns to the New Zealand Cup after champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame snared his second Inter Dominion title at Albion Park last night. In front of a packed and passionate local crowd, local hero Leap To Fame posted his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $A540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with…
McKay confident Birdy can trot her way to maiden victory
by Mike Love Russley trainer Laura McKay will be hoping her charge Birdy ($1.85FF) brings their manners in race one the Seahorse Supplements Trot over 2000m at Addington today with driver Blair Orange. The four year old Royal Aspirations mare will be having start three in her career, and trainer McKay says she has learnt a lot with each outing to date. “She’s come through that last run really well. She seems pretty bright,” said McKay. “She just has to trot the whole way.” After a faultless debut running second being…
Crackerjack steps up at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Dylan Ferguson admits Crackerjack is going to need to improve to warrant racing our best three-year-old trotters again this season. The good thing is Ferguson thinks that improvement is almost certain. The three-year-old recorded the third win of his career with perfect manners in his Classique Landscapers Metro Trotters Heat at Alexandra Park on Friday night, skying away to an easy win with Dylan’s father Peter in the sulky. Being a Metro Trot heat the next target for Crackerjack is an easy decision, the $35,000 final next…
One Mhor For Heather delivers special win at Addington
by Michael Guerin One Mhor For Heather is doing exactly what was named to do. And that is win races so her owners could remember and celebrate in the name of the late harness racing owner Heather Williams. Heather, with her husband Lex, raced some wonderful horses before Heather sadly passed in November 2020. One of thosd good horses they owned together was One Over Da Moon, the Jewels winner of his juvenile year, who has since stood at stud and sired some smart trotters. Enter the fray Heather’s friends…
Purdon hoping for one more Inter Dominion miracle
by Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon worries he may be all out of Inter Dominion miracles. Purdon and son Nathan take Oscar Bonavena to Albion Park in Brisbane tonight for the A$500,000 Inter Dominion Trotting Final, the veteran trotter joining fellow Kiwi trotter Bet N Win in giving New Zealand a great chance of winning the 3157m mobile iconic event. The only problem is Oscar Bonavena has finished just seventh and sixth in his two heats of the series, hardly Inter Dominion winning form, and he will need a…
From Mataura to Brisbane: Millie’s Inter Dominion debut
Millie Bond’s love of harness racing started young. One of her earliest memories is sitting on her dad’s lap as he jogged a horse called Crusher Collins around their home track in Gore. “I had a big smile on my face,” she says. “It was the first time I felt the excitement of being on a horse moving.” Now 16, Millie is chasing that same feeling, this time on one of harness racing’s biggest stages. On Saturday night, she will represent New Zealand in the ID25 Mini Trots Championship Final…
Williamson strikes twice on Winter Rewards Day
by Jonny Turner Brad Williamson’s winning double on Winter Rewards Day at Winton on Thursday brought delight to owners across New Zealand. The Oamaru trainer-driver produced Aint No Angel to win her second Winter Rewards Final, as well as scoring with Tabasco. After producing strong form in handy company recently, Aint No Angel saved her best for Southland’s biggest day of harness racing so far. The mare’s victory sits alongside the Winter Rewards Final she produced at Addington last year for Oturehua (Central Otago) breeder-owners Neville Armstrong, Rusty Nevill, and…