By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Whispering Artist upset the apple cart at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night when downing short-priced favourite Jolimont in the www.alexandrapark.co.nz For All Your Bookings Mobile Pace (2200m). The Art Major mare was first-up and despite her pleasing win in her 2050m workout a week prior, she was discounted by punters who let her drift out to be a $9 third favourite. From her front-row draw driver Matthew White found the early one-one position with Whispering Artist, which they held until Sparkie looped the field…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Celtic Spirit big hope in Ashburton Cup
By Jonny Turner The family combination of Greg, Nina and Ben Hope has been on fire recently and it looks set to continue on Ashburton Cup Day. In racing terms, the trio have been running hot on Canterbury racetracks. The Hopes will be out to keep up their outstanding form by winning the Ashburton Cup with Celtic Spirit on Saturday. Celtic Spirit will head into the revamped feature at the right time. A noted sprinter, the race’s 2400m distance – changed from its traditional 3200m trip – looks perfect for…
Rosie returns to Cambridge after Group 3 win
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Dylan Ferguson is riding the crest of a wave at the moment. Last Friday he reined home Rosie to victory in the Group 3 Northern Trotting Breeders’ Stakes (2700m) for partner Jo Stevens, and two days later the couple went to Karaka where they secured three yearlings at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale. “It was certainly a massive thrill for all of us to win the mares’ race,” Ferguson said. “It was a little unexpected, but it was a massive reward for everyone.…
Time Up The Hill and Corravally Star excel at Addington
By Michael Guerin Michael Ward knows he has a big decision to make with Time Up The Hill this year. And then he has an even bigger and more difficult decision after that. Ward trains, and along with his family owns and bred, the lovely mare who recorded her ninth career victory when overcoming a 10m handicap in the hands of Katie Cox at Addington on Thursday night. It continued a rich vein of form for the former age group star, having twice been placed behind Muscle Mountain lately, including…
Whites set for successful day at Cromwell
By Jonny Turner Mid Canterbury trainers Brent and Tim White are more than making up the numbers at Cromwell on Friday. The father and son trainers are bringing a team of horses south which have bolstered the fields for the first running of a two-day meeting at Cromwell by the Wyndham Harness Racing Club. Most importantly for punters, the White team is packed full of winning chances. Among them is Better’s Tart who will be out to add to her outstanding record south of the Waitaki when starting in Friday’s…
Boom or bust for Corravally Star at Addington
By Michael Guerin The start of tonight’s feature pace at Addington could determine how busy a weekend Corravally Star has. Because if the little stallion steps and runs hard he becomes the horse to beat in tonight’s 2000m standing start (race 7) but if he bobbles away he could lose his winning chance and be off to Ashburton on Saturday instead. Trainer Regan Todd has entered Corravally Star for both tonight and Saturday’s Ashburton Cup and says if he has a real race tonight he won’t head down the highway…
NZB National Yearling Sale tops $13m
A total of more than $13m was spent at the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale,which concluded in Christchurch this afternoon. Today was day two of the pacers’ sale with the top lot being Lot 364, a Bettor’s Delight colt out of Safedra which sold for $230,000. Bettor’s Delight was the sale’s top sire again, with the day’s second highest price going to another of his progeny, a colt out of Wiggleit Jiggleit for $210,000. Nine lots sold for $100,000 or more on the day. After four days of trading –…
Oaks favouritism for Kahlua Flybye and Stylish Memphis’ last race
By Adam Hamilton Steve Telfer can’t wait to get to Sydney on Saturday night and his confidence of winning the NSW Oaks at Menangle has not diminished despite a wide draw for Kahlua Flybye. Telfer, speaking from the yearling sales in Christchurch, believes Kahlua Flybye is classy and versatile enough to overcome barrier 10. She’ll start from eight if the emergencies come out. “I’m looking forward to it, especially being at the track, too,” he said. “She showed last week how fast she is, but she can do a bit…
“Solid” trading on day two of Christchurch NZB Yearling Sale
There was a total turnover of $3.643m on what New Zealand Bloodstock described as a “solid” day’s trading on the second day of the national yearling sale in Christchurch. The day’s highest purchase was the $240,000 paid for Lot 277, a Bettor’s Delight – Hartofdixie colt, prepared by the Winton-based Price Bloodstock. Top trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan secured that colt as well as Lot 200, for $160,000, on behalf of Dean Shannon’s Queensland-based Montana Park. Lot 200 was an Art Major-Agree With Me colt, sold by Spreydon Lodge.…
Date set for Alexandra Park’s racing return
Racing at Alexandra Park is on target to resume in little over a week. Last month’s devastating flooding in the Auckland region caused widespread damage to the track, prompting a complete reconstruction. In the meantime all racing there, including last Friday’s Harness Million meeting, was transferred to Cambridge. Under the guidance of Harness Racing New Zealand’s long-serving track and venue inspector John Denton this remedial work is now well underway. A total of 1200 tonnes of product has been removed from the track, and a lime-and base laid in its…