Author: NZHarnessNews

HRNZ’s Owners and Breeders of the Month for March and April

NZHarnessNews

Every month HRNZ awards a breeder and owner of the month. The draw is done randomly with the only proviso being your horse must have won a race during the month. Current Breeders of the Year Todd and Fleur Anderson are now April’s Breeder of the Month as well, following Dance Till Dawn’s win at Rangiora on April 27. It was the six-year-old mare’s 12th win at start number 75. “She has done a great job for her owners which is hugely satisfying as a breeder,” says Todd Anderson. A…

TAB Racing Club prepares for debut runner

NZHarnessNews

Since being launched last year the TAB Racing Club is going from strength to strength and its first standardbred may not be too far away from a race day debut. Already the Club has passed the 15,000 mark in terms of membership. “We have been big on promoting the club and what it stands for and driving membership at all sort of events,” says TAB Racing Club Manager Wade Smith. “It’s a case of more the merrier – especially those in the 18-35 age group, that’s where we are really…

Topaz caps off big week for McDermott

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Prebbleton trainer John McDermott just had his most successful week as a trainer with three winners saluting the judge.  “It’s a very big thrill,” said McDermott.  The hat trick of wins for the week was completed yesterday with Topaz at Ashburton in Race 8, the We’ve Got The Trots Syndicate mobile pace.  “She was quite disappointing on Friday at Addington. I wasn’t really sure how she would back up.” Topaz, with driver Wilson House, began well from their ace barrier draw holding on to secure the trail…

Hanrahan rates his runners at Ashburton today

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Ashburton trainer Laurence Hanrahan is not expecting the world from his two runners at Ashburton today – but does expect good runs.  In Race 1, the Ashburton Trotting Club Members Mobile Pace Elite Styx ($7.50FF) will step out for what is her first run in the Hanrahan colours with Gerard O’Reilly to drive.  Elite Styx has not raced since running third at Addington back in January when trained by Grant Payne, but has won a trial for Hanrahan since then on April 22.  “I have had her…

Mother’s Day for the Tomlinsons

NZHarnessNews

Mother’s Day is of course an opportunity to say thank you to those nearest and dearest to us all. Harness racing has many mothers who are involved in the sport in many different capacities. Today we look at one of those Mums whose own daughters are carrying on the family tradition. Team Tomlinson (and the Fords) – “we are all close” By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 2025 marks the first Mother’s Day when Amanda Tomlinson hasn’t actually had any children living at home. “We are empty-nesters,” she says.…

Take 2 for Alexandra Park tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin If Alexandra Park races true to recent form for tonight’s $200,000 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes there may be less winning chances in the Group 1 than it appears as first glance. Because while the race is the strongest of the three-year-old pacing fillies season so far the girls covering the least ground should hold a huge advantage. Tonight’s meeting is take 2 after last night’s attempt was postponed after just one race because of bad weather.   In the past few weeks in northern harness racing the…

Alexandra Park meeting postponed from tonight until tomorrow

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin For the second time in just three weeks Alexandra Park has had a meeting postponed because of wet weather. Only one race was run tonight before the remainder of the meeting was postponed because of track conditions caused by the very heavy rain in Auckland. A large pool of water had developed on the inside on the track and crept into the passing lane while rutting was starting to develop on the home bend from water flowing down the track because of the steep camber. The rain…

Keayang Zahara wary of “Susan” in Menangle Group 1

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  The challenges keep coming for unbeaten young Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara. Having finished last year with those three feature wins at Addington, Keayang Zahara just did enough to stretch her unbeaten record to 15 races when she returned to racing at Melton last Saturday night. The Marg and Paddy Lee-trained star is on the road this week to chase a 16th win and an eighth at Group 1 level in the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile at Menangle on Saturday night (11.09pm NZT).  While Keayang Zahara…

Big stakes on offer for Fillies and Mares

NZHarnessNews

A total of 35 Silk Road races, with stakes totalling around $700,000, will start later this month. It is the second year of the series. The Silk Road’s objective is to create pathways for everyday, emerging and elite Fillies and Mares. It is a key pillar of “The Future Starts Now” strategy launched in 2024. This year’s “Winter Series” heats will be divided among Northern, Canterbury and Southern with heats and finals for both gaits. They will start on May 23 at Alexandra Park with the last Final at Cambridge…

Pinseeker vying to be a Superstar at Addington tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Pinseeker may have started in the biggest race of the year but his grand final fortnight actually starts tonight. The five-year-old has been one of our major pacing improvers this season, developing from promising intermediate grade pacer to a big-race player. That was most clearly emphasised in the $1m Race by Betcha last month when he finished fifth, a week after sitting parked to finish third in the Flying Mile also at Cambridge. He drops back in grade for what is still a very strong Continental Event…