By Jonny Turner Deny Everything completed an epic journey back to the winner’s circle when scoring at Wyndham on Saturday. The Mark Jones trained seven-year-old powered back into winning form in his third start back from an 18 month break from racing when taking out the Forbury Park meeting’s feature pace. Deny Everything was a breakout star early in his career, winning five races in a row before going amiss. The journey back to the race has been far from straight forward according to his breeder and owner Damian Love.…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Buckland-Stevens may be “sleeper” at Addington
by Mike Love, Harness News Desk Jo-ann Buckland-Stevens will be looking to cause an upset today at Addington as the New Zealand amateur drivers’ championship wraps up. Buckland-Stevens currently sits fourth on the table, five points off current leader Michelle Northcott. “The heats today are quiet even. My two drives both have good chances if they get the right run,” said Buckland-Stevens. Buckland-Stevens drives Judgement Bay ($10.00FF) for Leeston trainer Chris McDowell, in heat three (Race one on the card). “He’s been a little bit unlucky in his recent starts.…
Jimmy Carter spearheads Williamson challenge at Wyndham
By Jonny Turner A drop in class after taking on smart types at Addington is why Jimmy Carter is the pick of Phil Williamson’s team at Wyndham on Saturday. The master trotting trainer takes four runners to the Forbury Park meeting with three of them squaring off against each other in the meeting’s feature trot. Majestic Love, Our Golden Kenny and Jimmy Carter go head-to-head, with the trio rated the top three favourites for race 5. The market has the three Williamson runners evenly matched, but their trainer thinks it…
White makes his move in amateur drivers’ championship
By Jonny Turner It didn’t pan out as expected, but the result was perfect for Barry White in heat two of the New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship at Addington on Friday night. White went to second equal halfway through the competition when Shards Fury kept winding up wide on the track to dramatically turn around his driver’s fortunes. White had to settle with last placing in the first heat of the championship at Cambridge on Thursday night after his charge broke in the middle stages. Though heat two didn’t go…
Ben Hope has first Australian win
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A brilliantly-judged drive has seen Ben Hope secure his first success in Australia. The talented junior driver-trainer has been in Australia for a fortnight or so now, based at the very successful stables run by ex-pat Kiwi Brent Lilley at Bolinda, north of Melbourne. So it was only fitting that Hope should get his first win with the Lilley-trained Kyvalley Paint in the Ballarattrottingclub.com.au Mobile Trot at Ballarat last night, upsetting at $20.60 and $3.80. Hope sat parked off with a wide draw…
Memorable wins for Jefferies and Northcott at Cambridge
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A first and a 21st highlighted the ten race programme at Cambridge last night, with Sophie Jefferies and Michelle Northcott both producing milestone wins. Northcott had a drama-filled win in the opening heat of the New Zealand amateur drivers’ championship. Driving Whooshka she locked wheels with Hey Miki Denario as they approached the 800 metre mark. For a tense few seconds it was touch and go for the favourite but Northcott, an accomplished jockey and driver, managed to negotiate her way out of…
Todd heads back to happy hunting ground
by Jonny Turner Canterbury trainer Regan Todd has set himself a task tough at Addington on Friday – to emulate the success he’s already had at the raceway this month. On June 9 and 11 (Friday and Sunday) he took three horses to the races, winning with all three. Magic Dash was among Todd’s winning treble, with the trotter capping excellent form this time in with a strong victory. With the way the four-year-old has progressed since his win, Magic Dash looks a decent chance of doubling up. “I have…
Vale Tony Dickinson
Tony Dickinson, the key figure behind the “Alta” racehorses, is being remembered as a man who “loved breeding and had invaluable knowledge”. Originally from Wainuiomata, Dickinson began breeding horses after he and wife Val moved to a lifestyle block at Waiau Pa, south of Auckland, in the 1970s. They set up Alta Dream Lodge. Dickinson had earlier been involved in an aluminum joinery business. Harness Racing New Zealand records indicate he bred 89 horses, 61 of which were winners. Among his most successful were Alta Serena who had 18 wins…
Amateurs championship kicks off at Cambridge
by Brigette Solomon It’s the amateur drivers’ time to shine at Cambridge Raceway, and Michelle Northcott for one can’t wait. Race 4 on Thursday will see the start of the 2023 New Zealand Amateur Drivers Championship, where five amateur drivers from each of the North and South Islands will battle it out over three race meetings. Hamilton based Northcott is competing in the series for the fourth time. “The champs is a whole other opportunity for us that we would likely never get if we were trying to make it…
News Briefs – June 21
Centurion ATM stock makes NZ debut The only New Zealand progeny of trotting stallion Centurion ATM has made her first appearance on the track for Pukekohe trainer Owen Gillies. The three-year-old trotting filly, Caviar Noire, took it all in her stride in her first learner workout, running her last 400m comfortably in 30.9. “She stepped nicely, trotted well, and did everything right, we will look to qualify her and hopefully head to the races” says Gillies. The filly’s ownership group includes three Gillies siblings, Jan, Gary, and Owen, alongside Grant…