This week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.
Author: NZHarnessNews
News Briefs : May 31
300 for Wallis/Hackett Bernie Hackett and Michelle Wallis brought up their 300th training success when Five O’Clock Gerry won his northern debut at Alexandra Park on Friday night. Daughter Crystal Hackett drove the perfect race, positioning the What The Hill in the trail before zipping up the passing lane to win by three quarters of a length. It was the horse’s first win and came after six placings from seven starts down south. The Wallis-Hackett team have been training winners since 2012. Before that Wallis had 323 winners between 1999…
Copy That likely to miss Queensland trip, Merlin out too
By Michael Guerin For pacing hero Copy That only one race matters now and that looks certain to see him miss the rich Queensland winter carnival for a well-earned break. Copy That was among the favourites for the A$400,000 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park in July but trainer Ray Green and owner Merv Butterworth are now lukewarm on another Trans Tasman trip. “He has had some hard racing and done plenty of travelling since last September and he is only flesh and bone, he needs a break at some…
Over $5000 raised for Breast Cancer Foundation
The Breast Cancer Foundation has received a $5300 donation, courtesy of harness racing show, the Box Seat. Every week this series hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin, as well as well known businessman and harness racing enthusiast Graham Hand, have been placing $100 multis through the TAB, with all proceeds going to the Foundation. “It’s been a bit up and down,” says O’Connor, “we started strongly and have had a few dips along the way but it’s all been for a great cause.” “As you can imagine getting Mick to…
Perseverance pays divvies for winning trotter
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Many times it seemed that Downtown Orlando was not going to cut it as a race horse. And many times trainer Amber Lethaby felt tempted to “pull the pin”. But now she, and the rest of the horse’s connections, have been rewarded – the four-year-old trotter is a race winner, after prevailing at Timaru over the weekend. “It was good result, good for dad and good for the owners,” says Lethaby. Lethaby’s father Ray Jenkins has driven the horse in all 13 career…
30 years on and the Mossdale horses just keep winning
By Rob Courtney The Mossdale horses are synonymous with Archie Affleck and his origins within the Southland farming community, and Mossdale Ben’s win at Addington last Thursday, with Ben Hope in the bike, continued a family tradition which began over 30 years ago. “Charlie Smaill and myself both farmed in the same area (near the present day home of Macca Lodge in Southland) and our kids were the same age so we saw a fair bit of each other,” says Affleck. Together we got Keyali off Neil Timms in the…
Just Believe’s tough luck in Elitloppet
By Adam Hamilton Star Aussie trotter Just Believe showed enough in a heartbreaking Elitloppet performance last night to pave the way for Down Under trotters to tackle the famous race with some confidence in years to come. The Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star winner was travelling strongly and may have run as close as fifth before being tightened, clipping a wheel and galloping out of the race rounding the final bend in his Elitloppet heat. “I’m pretty devastated. I feel quite sick, to be honest,” driver Greg Sugars said…
Mowbray bags double in Timaru
By Jonny Turner Consistent performers Mighty Reactor and Fourth Amendment made full use of their opportunities when winning at Timaru on Sunday. Trainer Brad Mowbray produced a winning double with the pair with Fourth Amendment scoring in amateur drivers company and Mighty Reactor taking out race 7. Mighty Reactor ran to his eighth career win when making full use of a perfect trip in the trail driver Matthew Williamson secured him. After showing talent throughout his career and racing much tougher fields, the six-year-old was always going to be tough…
“Quirky” combo wins at Winton
By Jonny Turner Carl Hanna and the stock of the late champion sire Somebeachsomewhere again proved a winning combination at Winton on Saturday. Hanna produced the seventh win of his training career when Oneloveonelife finally broke maidens courtesy of a perfect Kerryn Tomlinson drive. Of those seven wins, six of Hanna’s victories have come with the stock of the champion former Canadian racehorse and turned sire, Somebeachsomewhere. Known to leave horses with ability, Somebeachsomewhere has also left more than his share of quirky and headstrong horses. Hanna joked that that…
Caution around Artatac’s prospects in Timaru feature
By Jonny Turner Mark Jones is taking a cautious approach to Artatac’s Timaru Winter Cup defence. The rugged five-year-old won the Phar Lap Raceway feature last year, proving too hard to catch from the front line. But the pacer faces a different challenge on Sunday, when he will line up as one of the two 20m back markers. Artatac charged home from the rear at Rangiora last weekend, running a nice second behind Champagneandwine, who also looks a key hope in the Timaru Winter Cup. While he had next start…