By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk There was an electric atmosphere at Addington Raceway on Thursday night as One Change crossed the line to record his 18th career victory in the Alabar Free-For-All Mobile Pace (2600m). In what could be touted as one of the most exciting races to date this season, the speed was on from the outset with Corravally Star, Henry Hubert and Mighty Looee all driven hard off the gate. From his outside draw, driver Blair Orange wasn’t enticed to enter the speed duel with One Change,…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Trainor carries Kiwi hopes in Miracle Mile
By Adam Hamilton New Zealand won’t add to its proud 14 Miracle Mile wins this weekend. There is no Kiwi-trained raider in Saturday night’s $1 million race, so the Kiwi focus will go to former talented young Canterbury horseman Jack Trainor. Now firmly established as a major training force at Menangle, Trainor will have just his second Miracle Mile runner in former Kiwi mare Braeview Kelly. Trainor’s first runner was Stylish Memphis two years ago when she ran sixth. As good as Stylish Memphis was in her prime, Trainor is…
One Change rejuvenated ahead of Addington assignment
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk One Change was a spent force at the conclusion of racing at Addington Raceway last week but has recuperated well according to trainer Amber Hoffman and will back-up at the Christchurch track on Thursday. The six-year-old gelding was forced to do a power of work when pushed three-wide when improving at the bell. He faded in the final 500m and Hoffman was surprised with how well he came though the tough run. “He has come through the run surprisingly well. We are quite happy…
The Box Seat – March 1
Check out this week’s Box Seat with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.
News Briefs – March 1
Back racing at Alexandra Park Racing returns to Alexandra Park this Friday after recent meetings there were transferred to Cambridge because of flood damage caused in late January. The track has had a full reconstruction and will be in perfect condition for the nine race programme that includes the Group 2 Alabar 3YO Classic at 8.48pm. In recent years the Classic has been won by such stars as Akuta (2022), Copy That (2019) and Lazarus (2015). Honolua Bay out to join the greats Winning the Hunter Cup/Miracle Mile double is…
Hot And Treacherous heads off to Queensland
By Michael Guerin High-class northern pacer Hot And Treacherous is the latest open class regular to join the Australian mane drain. The 11-race winner headed to Auckland airport yesterday to be flown to Australia and he will eventually end up in Queensland. “I don’t know who he is going to up there but it is a shame to see him go,” says co-trainer Brian Hughes. “It is too hard with horses like him up here, you often don’t know if their races are going to get off the ground. “I…
Orange heading to his first world driving championships
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk What a few days it’s been for Blair Orange. On Saturday he reined home five winners at Ashburton. Now the country’s top driver has been confirmed as New Zealand’s representative at this year’s world driving championships. The championships, back after a Covid-enforced hiatus, will be contested over 20 races at four different tracks in three different countries – the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium – from August 14-18. This will be Orange’s debut at the championships, with the five-time Kiwi champion driver realising a…
Alta Meteor out to break Kiwi Group 1 drought
By Michael Guerin New Zealand harness racing’s Group 1 drought in Sydney has moved a little closer to ending after Alta Meteor drew perfectly for the A$200,000 NSW Derby at Menangle on Saturday. The South Auckland pacer won his heat of the Derby at Menangle last Saturday and will start from barrier 2 in a very open classic over the punishing 2400m mobile on the giant track outside Sydney. Trained by the Telfer/Cullen stable, Alta Meteor isn’t the best three-year-old pacer in New Zealand but has picked the right Derby…
NZB announces changes to National Yearling Sale
Changes have been agreed to for the 2024 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka and Christchurch. The trotting-only yearling sale will not be held in Christchurch next year. Instead the trotters will be combined with the pacing yearlings, as is the case in Auckland. A Parade and Inspection day will also now be held at both venues on the day before the sales start. These have been a regular part of previous sales but did not feature this month. “We have the overarching structure in place (for 2024 and…
Honolua Bay $2.80 favourite for Miracle Mile
By Adam Hamilton Hunter Cup winner Honolua Bay is favourite to “do a King Of Swing” and complete the double by winning Saturday night’s $1 million Miracle Mile at Menangle. King Of Swing, winner of the past three Miracle Miles, did the Hunter Cup/Miracle Mile double in 2020 and last year. Honolua Bay’s odds were slashed from $3.50 into $2.80 after drawing ideally in gate four. He will come into three if the emergencies don’t get in. It came just hours after he produced a mesmerizing last-to-first performance in a…