Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Copy That may be one of the great leaders in New Zealand harness racing history but trainer Ray Green is certain he doesn’t have to be in front to win Friday night’s $180,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup. The $2million earner clashes with arch rival Self Assured in the wonderful race and usually, not all the time but usually, when Copy That gets in front of Self Assured he beats him. Both his New Zealand Cup wins came under those circumstances when Copy That started from barrier 8,…

This week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.  

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News. 

60th success for Kiwi bred Evergreen pacer Crocket’s Cullen has just had his 60th career win. Bred by North Canterbury’s David Cottrell, the now 12-year-old son of Christian Cullen won three from 15 before being sold to Australia in 2016 where he won another 11 times in Victoria and New South Wales. He then headed to North America where he has now won another 46 times. His 60th career win was in a $US20,000 race at Plainridge Park in a time of 1.51, six tenths of a second outside his…

by Rob Courtney Legendary horseman Jim Dalgety used to say that very good stud book families can be ‘dormant for a time but retain the ability to reinvent themselves back into the limelight.’ Friday’s Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park and recent impressive performances by The Moonstone (Monkey Bones – Landora’s Jewel) and Eyre I Will (What The Hill – Landora’s Special) have done just that for Landora’s Pride. This bonny mare from Pukekohe, trained mostly by her part owner Trevor Allingham started 120 times (the last 22 in Australia) between…

By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson put the icing on top of his birthday cake, as well as a stellar season so far, when driving a treble on his 30th birthday over the weekend. Wins with Mucho Fuerte, Mr Cash Man and Tennessee Honey at Ascot Park gave the Wyndham trainer-driver plenty to celebrate as he hit a milestone birthday on Saturday. “It was pretty cool how things worked out,” Ferguson said. Ferguson arguably produced his best work in the sulky in his own colours, when getting Tennessee Honey out of…

by Don Rae Friday will see the running of one of trotting’s great races but who is the Rowe behind the Rowe Cup? Along with the Dominion Handicap, the Rowe Cup ranks as one of New Zealand’s premier races for the square-gaiters, with Friday’s edition being the 105th edition of the great race, after the Australian-bred Whisht – owned, trained and driven by Hawera’s Jim Corrigan – won the very first Rowe Handicap Trot in 1918. John Rowe was probably the Lyell Creek of harness racing administrators in his time.…

The Government has today approved a strategic arrangement between the TAB and leading British betting agency Entain. The 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will benefit the three New Zealand Racing Codes and 38 National Sporting Organisations, while bringing world class products, services and gambling harm minimisation tools to TAB NZ’s 250,000 customers. The deal has been described as “a monumental step in shoring up the future of New Zealand racing.” The deal means the minimum racing code distribution will be at least $150m annually for the next five years. TAB NZ…

What a run of success Sweet Lou is having of late. On Friday his progeny took out a treble at Addington (Watermelon Sugar, Bluto and Raklou), doubles at Gloucester Park, Launceston and Ballarat as well as the quinella in the Wagga Wagga Regional Championship Final.  As Rob Courtney reports Bluto is continuing a winning run for one of Sweet Lou’s biggest fans, Otago trainer Graeme Anderson.   Graeme Anderson has a saying – “Jed Clampett (of the Beverly Hillbillies) found oil, I found the Sweet Lous” – and it looks…

By Michael Guerin No sooner had a surprising recovery put Akuta back in the frame for the Auckland Trotting Cup this Friday than his chances received another body blow – a second row draw. The imposing four-year-old missed last Friday’s Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park because of a hoof abscess that burst out on the morning of the race and co-trainer Mark Purdon was initially concerned it wouldn’t heal in time for Akuta to take his place in this Friday’s Group 1. But after being re-shod to take pressure…