Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Local trainer Arna Donnelly is hoping to start a huge 28 hours with a win at Cambridge tonight. Donnelly takes her stable stars headlined by Kango to Alexandra Park tomorrow night, where the big horse contests the Roy Purdon Memorial. He warmed up for that with a strong win over Old Town Road at the Pukekohe workouts last weekend and Donnelly says the 2200m standing start with a 10m advantage over the favourites might be Kango’s chance. “He is ready to go and ready to be driven…

This week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Matt Cross. 

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

Age no barrier for veteran What an absolute war horse Take After Me is. The dual gaited son of Holmes Hanover’s win at Ashburton on Sunday was his 18th career victory from a mammoth 320 starts dating back to 2014. He has had four wins from 124 starts as a pacer, and 14 from 196 as a trotter. Trained by Fred Scott in North Canterbury, Take After Me has had the second most starts by a standardbred ever in this country. He is 27 behind Alexy (347). Double double for…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk When Rachmaninov fronted up on race day for the first time he was up against a future trotting superstar – not that anyone knew it at the time. It was February 10, 2017 and Rachmaninov finished fifth at Addington, with the race winner being another debutant by the name of Sundees Son. Sundees Son went on to win 34 races from 72 starts and over $1.4m on his way to twice being crowned Horse of the Year. While he retired earlier this year,…

A new era is underway at Tardina Stud. Following the death of iconic breeder, owner and veterinary surgeon Tony Parker in March it’s now the next generation, led by daughter Faine, who’s carrying on the family name. And that starts with six offerings at the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sales at Karaka on Thursday, May 25. By Rob Courtney When I rang Faine to talk about the family breeding operation, Auckland was in the middle of another weather bomb and 165mls of rain had fallen already that morning alone. As a…

By Adam Hamilton Former Kiwi trotting mare Escape The Pace won in good style at her first run for new trainer Rickie Alchin at Menangle on Saturday night. Formerly trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Escape The Pace galloped at her first Aussie run in the Group 1 Macarthur Mile a week earlier. This time she stepped away well from the standing start to lead and never looked in danger. And there was a top result for Michelle Wallis’ raider Melsadele who ran a terrific second in the Schweppes…