Author: NZHarnessNews

Kango confirmed for The Race by Grins – “incredibly exciting”

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Just a few years ago Arna Donnelly couldn’t have believed she would be where she is now. Where that is is the leading trainer in the Waikato and with her stable star Kango preparing to line up on her home track for $1million in The Race by Grins. Kango became the ninth and likely second-last invite to the race when his connections secured the Dunstan Feeds slot on Wednesday, bringing a real Waikato flavour to the April 14 race. He will not only have Donnelly as his…

Sunday is deadline for Racing Rewards Showcase

NZHarnessNews

Time is running out for those those wanting to qualify for the lucrative Racing Rewards Showcase at Addington. Sunday’s Cheviot Harness Racing Club meeting will be the last chance for horses to earn enough points to force their way into the series, at Addington the following weekend, on Easter Saturday. The highly popular series, which was last year known as the RATTO Showcase, will feature three pacing and two trotting races over 2600m, each worth $27,000. There will be 16 trotters and 14 pacers in their respective races. To qualify horses…

News Briefs : March 29

NZHarnessNews

Smolenski recovering after mishap Mark Smolenski is on the mend after a track accident at Rangiora earlier this month. The well-known trainer was tipped from his cart, bruising his back and lungs. He then developed pneumonia and had a week in hospital recovering. He is now back home and making good progress though it will be a few weeks before he’s back in the cart. Speedy trotter moving south Current New Zealand record-holder Quik Barbie is heading south. The four-race winner has been transferred from Cambridge trainer Matty White to…

Meet Dan Fogarty – the new voice of racing

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk This country’s newest commentator Dan Fogarty reckons he’s had the racing bug for 15 years.  Nothing unusual about that you might think – except that Fogarty has only just turned 20. Based in Christchurch he is now a Trackside regular calling the dogs as well as selected harness meetings, trials and workouts. “It was my dream job since I was five.” “It was the 2008 Melbourne Cup and I was five years old and we had a sweepstake at home.” He drew the…

Top Aussie driver confirmed for Cambridge’s big day

NZHarnessNews

by Adam Hamilton Champion Aussie driver Chris Alford will be at Cambridge on The Grins Night of Champions on April 14. Alford confirmed he’s crossing the ditch to drive star Aussie trotter Aldebaran Zeus in the Group 2 trotting sprint on the night for trainer Brent Lilley. But could Alford also drive in the Race by Grins itself? While nobody would confirm it and maybe no decision has been made, Alford is believed to be the front-runner to drive the Jess Tubbs-trained Triple Eight in the $1mil slot race. Of…

“Fergie” in the House at Manawatu

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Peter Ferguson is in an unusual position at Manawatu this week. He regularly drives for Michael House but usually as part of a powerful line-up that features House’s two go-tos in Blair Orange and Sarah O’Reilly. But today, and then again on Friday, they won’t be there. So Ferguson finds himself driving eight House runners on the nine-race programme. “He’s tried the rest and now he’s come to the best,” quips Ferguson. “I figured Blair wouldn’t be going because there’s a premier meeting…

Selections | Manawatu

NZHarnessNews

Trottech’s  selections for Manawatu today.              Race   TrottechForm Analyst Race 13.40pm 4 Ahwel3 Romeo Foxtrot2 Mocca Francy6 Highview Rockn Roll  Race 24.15pm 7 Petronelli Gee8 Love Is Everywhere2 Eagle Hanover5 Littlebitoflove  Race 34.50pm 5 Bella Thorne7 Smokin Gun3 Sweet Chevron1 Boris Yeltsin  Race 45.25pm 5 Jazzy Styx1 Bell Fire3 Kingswood7 Demi Darling Race 55.52pm 3 Cos I Can8 New York Minute9 Rough And Ready4 Run Mason Run  Race 66.22pm 4 Raging On9 Pacing Hope1 Ticking Over8 The Cobbler Race 76.47pm 7 Full Of Desire3…