Author: NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk A big week just got better for Matthew White. Just days after knowing that he’s going to drive in New Zealand’s richest race at Cambridge Raceway next month, the trainer-driver sent The Big Dance to Manawatu yesterday and she duly delivered for driver David Butcher for her first win in 17 starts. The local horseman will partner Nicholas Cage in the $1million Race by Grins (2200m) on April 14 for Cambridge trainers Andrew and Lyn Neal after a convincing 2-1/4 length victory in the…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Sam Ottley has a great chance to finish the annual Teal Pants campaign on a high. In the very last race of the campaign at Timaru today (The Laser Electrical Timaru Mobile Pace at 6.31pm) she will drive Theresa Love, a second favourite behind Regan Todd-trained stablemate First Class. “It’s great to be putting Regan’s colours on again , I worked for him a few years back and both of his look good chances.” Theresa Love is coming off a last start second…

By Bruce Stewart Harness racing trainer and driver Tony Stevens of Winton passed away at home on Friday. He was in his seventy fifth year. “He just loved his horses,” son Richard said. Tony drove twenty six winners, his first was Night Chief (Newport Chief at the Invercargill meeting in January 1972 beating Veltic (Young Charles) driven by Hunter McHugh and Bonny Adios (Dick Adios) driven by Russell Kerr. Night Chief was trained by Tony’s father Roy. (Tony Stevens, pictured above at the head of Dipendra) “Tony started at Nightcaps…

By Adam Hamilton Co-trainer Steve Telfer is thrilled to have classy pacer B D Joe back home and excited about his prospects in the $1m Race By Grins. B D Joe had little luck in a recent four-race NSW raid, but won fans with a terrific second to Bondi Lockdown in the $100,000 Lighthorse free-for-all (2400m) at Menangle on Miracle Mile night. “He arrived home the night after the run, had four days off and felt very bright when we jogged him,” Telfer said. “As much as we wanted to…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Highview Rockn Roll will by vying for a hat-trick of wins at Manawatu Raceway when she heads to the Palmerston North track on Tuesday. The eight-year-old mare has won her last two races at the track since joining trainer Farley Cossey’s Stratford barn and he is hoping for a repeat performance this week. Since her Manawatu triumphs, Highview Rockn Roll ran sixth at Cambridge Raceway last week, pleasing Cossey ahead of her Central Districts return. “I thought her run at Cambridge last start was…

By Adam Hamilton Brilliant Kiwi-owned trotting mare Queen Elida is eyeing up more Group 1 spoils after winning in Victoria on Saturday night. Brent Lilley’s star returned from a short break with a sparkling Group 3 La Coocaracha free-for-all win (2240m) at Melton. Next stop is the $75,000 Group 1 Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters’ free-for-all (2760m) for mares’ at Melton on March 25. Longer term, she will return to Menangle on May 6 for a race she won last year, the $100,000 Group 1 Macarthur Mile (formerly La Coocaracha), which is also…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk She’s Tough showed her aptitude for the West Coast climate when scoring at Reefton on Sunday. The Brad Mowbray-trained mare was victorious at Westport on Friday and backed up with a convincing win in the Inangahua-Grey Valley Cup (2500m) two days later. The daughter of He’s Watching once again showed her brilliance from a stand, stepping away quickly from behind the 10m tape to take an early lead for driver Kimberley Butt. She soon handed up the lead to Copperhead Rose and enjoyed the…