By Adam Hamilton Top Aussie driver Greg Sugars is looking for positives after a nasty barrier draw for Just Believe’s Elitloppet heat at Solvalla, Sweden. The Inter Dominion and Great Southern Star winner will start from the second outside gate (barrier seven) in the second of two Elitloppet heats in Stockholm at 1.55am Monday morning (NZ time). “I said before the draw, I’d have loved barrier four or closer in, but we didn’t get it,” Sugars said. “It’s not ideal, obviously closer in would’ve been better, but I’m just thrilled…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Aussie News – May 21
By Adam Hamilton Trotting guru Chris Lang had a plan and executed it superbly. Lang felt he had former top young Kiwi trotter Ultimate Stride back to his best and drove him accordingly, to stunningly upset glamour mare Queen Elida in the free-for-all at Melton last night. Once he found the front, Lang pinched a cosy lead time and 30.6sec first quarter before letting Ultimate Stride really roll along in front. He went 57.9sec from the 1200-400m, making Queen Elida really have to chase hard after giving him a 25m…
Yesberg team yields value at Rangiora
By Mike Love, Harness News Desk Ohoka trainer Trent Yesberg takes a handy team to Rangiora today, including Uptown Funk in the $17,000 Anne Thompson Memorial Graduation final. Uptown Funk, the Art Major three-year-old Art Major gives Yesberg his best chance of the day. Clearing maidens at Rangiora two starts back on May 7th, then backing it up with a solid 7th at Addington last week, Yesberg believes the gelding will assert himself well today. “He’s definitely got the ability to give them a good shake. I’ve always had a…
Invercargill winner Johns Boy – “as honest as the day is long”
By Jonny Turner Johns Boy ran to a deserved victory and a special win for the Crofts family at Ascot Park on Saturday. After competing in several Gold Chip Finals, the trotter charged home late to clinch a well-earned win for trainer Lindsay Veint and driver Andrew Armour. Johns Boy is raced by father and son Barry and Tony Crofts, alongside the estate of the late John Crofts. Barry and Tony Crofts were thrilled to cheer home the trotter named after their late father and grandfather. “It is good, it…
Selections | Rangiora
Trottech’s selections for Rangiora today. Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 112.12pm 7 Rush3 Rachmaninov9 Kohli Trouble5 Racey Krusa Race 212.40pm 6 Cant Touch This5 Ambleside Drive13 The Welsh Dragon2 Loch Lomond Race 31.09pm 1 Fernz Goldy12 Atomic Traveller7 Valynda11 Opawa Louie Race 41.34pm 8 Kowhai Sundown3 Brother Love10 Buffy Northstains5 Kink Race 51.59pm 1 Stellar Arden11 Betterwithbling6 Hes Santas Excuse5 Bobby Waterhouse Race 62.24pm 5 Jack Tar6 Artatac4 Champagneandwine3 Santanna Mach Race 72.59pm 10 Eyre I Will2 Kawhi8 Celtic Arden9 Te Rapa Race 83.24pm…
Two down, one to go for Tony Barron
By Jonny Turner Tony Barron has the chance to complete a rare feat following the win of Lifes A Beach at Addington on Friday night. Lifes A Beach bounced back to her best form when pouncing late in the Second Autumn Mares Autumn Fillies & Mares Sprint for driver John Morrison. The mare hadn’t been in the form of her life leading into her win, but she had been running creditable races through the autumn in strong company. When Lifes A Beach took her opportunity to show she hadn’t lost…
Eurokash gets it right in the end at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Eurokash proved the perfect replacement for champion stablemate Muscle Mountain in the $45,000 Fiskens and Son Anzac Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday but the result could have been vastly different. Trainers Greg and Nina Hope decided to bypass the trotting feature with their champion and Eurokash was asked to step into the huge shoes as their Anzac Cup horse and at the first attempt he didn’t do a very good job. Eurokash stunned the Hopes by galloping badly at the start but to their relief it…
Kango just too good in Roy Purdon Memorial
By Michael Guerin Kango may no longer be a one-trick pony, even if it is a pretty good trick. The mammoth Cambridge pacer used that trick, leading and outstaying his rivals, to down hot favourite Self Assured in the $45,000 Roy Purdon Memorial at Alexandra Park on Friday night, with Heza Sport a close up third on his track debut. Those same tactics have won Kango a Franklin Cup and Kaikoura Cup, those valuable races just below the absolute best races like next Friday’s Auckland Cup. Kango has of course…
Williamson keen for hot streak to continue
By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson will be out to continue a golden recent run at Ascot Park on Saturday. The trainer has produced a winning double at the last two Invercargill meetings and he has three runners aiming to bring him a third. Jordan Anne has been among Williamson’s recent winners and she looks a big chance of taking home another victory on Saturday. “She has been going super – it was another good run last start,” Williamson said. “She is just drawn out a bit and with Miss Jessica…
The best four chances at Ascot Park today
To help punters out at Invercargill today southern-based journalist Jonny Turner has sorted out his best four winning chances on the day. Jordy – Race 2 – 12.30pm Jordy looks another strong hope on the Ascot Park card, especially after drawing barrier 1 in race 2. The pacer locked wheels and lost his winning chance at Winton last week. But Jordy made an excellent recovery, running on well into fifth placing. El Sirrar – Race 5 – 1.49pm El Sirrar was only just knocked off in his first start for…