By Jonny Turner Hayden Cullen insists he is right up for the challenge of his latest harness racing venture. Just last weekend, Cullen and wife Amanda officially announced the start of their new training enterprise at West Melton. The Group 1 winning horseman recently left his position as a co-trainer at Stonewall Stud not knowing exactly where his career was heading. But Cullen has moved at lightning speed to set up his own operation, training and pre-training racehorses, as well as educating young stock. Starting a new chapter from the…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Additional $30 million in racing industry funding for 2023/24 racing season
Harness Racing New Zealand has hailed the latest TAB funding announcement as “another good news story for our sport”. TAB New Zealand today announced its direct funding to the domestic racing industry will reach a record-setting $215 million for the upcoming 2023/24 racing season. TAB NZ’s direct funding of racing is made up of a distribution payment to Racing New Zealand, the application of class 4 gaming proceeds to the Racing Authorised Purpose, and funding of the independent Racing Integrity Board. Today’s announcement sees a further $30 million made available…
Elsu dies at age 23 – “we were privileged to have him in our lives”
After earning more than two million dollars on the track, and a decade at stud, Elsu has died, at age 23. Alabar Stud says the one-time superstar pacer was diagnosed with heart disease and had to be humanely euthanized after taking a sudden health turn at Alabar in Pukekohe today. “Elsu was a part of the family here at Alabar NZ. He was such an amazing horse and we were privileged to have him in our lives,” says Alabar’s Graeme Henley. Knee problems ultimately shortened Elsu’s racing career but by…
DeFilippis hit 300 as training combo
Not one to get too carried away with his own success, Colin DeFilippi was typically low key after a milestone win at Addington yesterday. When Beaudiene Quick Step got up to narrowly win the Ox McEwan at Ryal Bush Transport Pace it marked the 300th training success for the husband and wife combo of Colin and Julie DeFilippi. “Pretty pleased,” was DeFilippi’s response. Beaudiene Quick Step settled back early then made a three wide move tracking favourite Don Juan at the 600 before going on to win by a head.…
Spirit of St Louis continues remarkable winning run
By Adam Hamilton Another win from Grand Circuit star Spirit Of St Louis headlined a big night for Team McCarthy across two states last night. Spirit Of St Louis narrowly but very impressively won the 2300m free-for-all at Menangle for driver Jack Callaghan to signal he would be a major player when he heads to Albion Park for the Group 1 double– Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake – in coming weeks. It took a brilliant Callaghan drive to land the one-one and all of Spirit Of St Louis’ class…
Aint No Angel huge chance for Williamson
by Jonny Turner Brad Williamson will be out to continue a highly successful weekend at Addington on Sunday. The Oamaru trainer-driver enjoyed an outstanding Friday, driving two winners at Winton and training another at Addington. Williamson has high hopes of training and driving another winner on Sunday. Aint No Angel looks to slot into a very winnable event in race 7. The four-year-old drops in grade after producing a solid fifth after working hard in her last outing at Addington. Slotting into barrier 1, the mare looks to be in…
Aldebaran Zeus heading stateside
By Adam Hamilton The trotting world has suddenly got a lot smaller. Fresh from Just Believe’s heroics in Sweden, another star Down Under trotter will tackle some of the world’s best in the US in September. Connections of Victoria’s multiple Group 1 winner Aldebaran Zeus have accepted an invitation to tackle some of the world’s best trotters in the $US1mil MGM Yonkers International Trot in New York on September 9. Aldebaran Zeus, who recently campaigned with mixed success in NZ, has won 18 races and almost $420,000 for trainer Brent…
O’Reilly’s big day rewarded with Addington win
By Jonny Turner Sarah O’Reilly’s commitment to harness racing paid off when American Me ran to victory at Addington on Friday night. The pacer dived along the passing lane to score in in his first start for the Brent and Tim White stable. O’Reilly drove in nine of the ten races at Winton on Friday afternoon before flying back to Christchurch to drive a further four horses at Addington. It was the first time the junior driver had competed at two meetings in the same day. The situation gave O’Reilly…
Invictus says goodbye on winning note
By Brigette Solomon The win by Invictus at Alexandra Park on Thursday night was a fitting farewell, as it turns out. A great performer for trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett the victory in the Reharvest Handicap Trot came with some emotion as it was the last start on New Zealand soil for the seven-year-old who now heads to New South Wales to Luke and Belinda McCarthy’s Cobbitty Farm. The Peak gelding has been a consistent contender in the higher rated trotting races in the North Island for the past…
“Everyone’s favourite” a popular winner at Winton
By Jonny Turner Waikouaiti mare Jonique clinched a deserved victory with a tough performance to win one of yesterday’s Winter Rewards Finals at Winton. Boosted stakes saw highly competitive racing amid cold and wet conditions at the last meeting before Southland and Otago’s winter harness racing hiatus. Jonique capped consistent recent form when sustaining a big finish for driver Kerryn Tomlinson. The mare hit the lead early in the run home before fighting off a line up of challengers to score Jonique’s victory continued a successful association between trainer Amber…