by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A full brother to dual New Zealand Cup champion Copy That and a full sister to superstar trotter Muscle Mountain are among the yearlings up for sale at the fifth annual NZB Standardbred Yearling sales in Auckland and Christchurch this week. A total of around 400 yearlings will go through the ring, starting in Auckland today from 12pm, and then moving to Christchurch for three days from Monday, February 20. As well as the proven sires like Bettor’s Delight, Art Major, Majestic Son…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Gutsell trio out to improve on impressive grass track record
By Jonny Turner The best possible conditions await siblings Insarchatwist, Hacksaw Ridge and Still Rockin at Gore’s grass track meeting on Sunday. The Ricky Gutsell trained trio will attempt to build on their impressive records on turf when stepping out at the big Gore Summer Cup meeting. Each of Gutsell’s full brothers and sisters – by A Rocknroll Dance from the broodmare gem Insar – have more than just their pedigrees in common. In an impressive feat, Insarchatwist, Hacksaw Ridge and Still Rockin are all winners on the Gore grass…
Full house for Fleming at Manawatu
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Hawera trainer Willie Fleming is looking forward to heading to Manawatu Raceway on Sunday after spending an enjoyable week competing in the Workingmen’s Club Nationals at Wanganui. While he wasn’t able to secure top honours on the bowling green, he is hoping to change his luck in Palmerston North where he will line-up his racing team of two. Run Mason Run will back-up in the Enjoy Retirement John Doody Mobile Pace (2000m) after running fourth on Thursday, while Rory McIlroy will be having his…
Breakthrough Group victory for Stevens and Ferguson
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk There was no hiding the sheer joy that Jo Stevens and partner Dylan Ferguson were feeling about claiming their first Group victory at Cambridge last night. Thanks to an aggressive drive from Ferguson, the Stevens-trained Rosie led from start to finish in the Group 3 HR Fisken and Sons Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes. It was Stevens’ first Group win as a trainer, and Ferguson’s first as a driver. “I’m a small-time trainer and for us to get our first Group win together –…
No joy for Kiwis in Newcastle
By Adam Hamilton What looked great on paper turned into a horror story for Team Telfer’s pair in last night’s Newcastle Mile. While hot favourite B D Joe didn’t look to handle the track at all and Alta Wiseguy kept running into backsides, Mach Dan grabbed a guaranteed Miracle Mile berth by going back-to-back in the $100,000 feature. Both are trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer and Hayden Cullen. And it was some win, probably a career-best, after Mach Dan was buzzed off the gate from a wide draw, sat…
Merlin magic at Harness Million
By Michael Guerin Training legend Barry Purdon was both proud and thrilled after the $200,000 Harness Million at Cambridge on Friday night. The pride was spread far and wide. Firstly of his mighty little horse Merlin, who stormed home four wide to grab stablemate Sooner The Better in the last 50m of the NZB Standardbred sales race over 2200m. The margins were head, head, nose. That is the second stable quinella in a Harness Million in six months after Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan quinellaed the two-year-old trot last…
Tomlinson with strong book of drives at Rangiora
By Jonny Turner Sheree Tomlinson has one of the leading contenders in the Team Teal Challenge among her strong book of drives at Rangiora on Saturday. Tomlinson teams up with the Bob Butt trained Brando in the teal event. The pacer impressed in two starts at Nelson recently when winning and running second. “I was lucky enough that Bob asked me to drive him a couple of weeks ago.” “He went some good races at Nelson, hopefully he can step away and I think he’ll definitely be competitive.” Tomlinson also…
Grass works wonders for pacing-bred trotter
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Farley Cossey has been coming to Manawatu Raceway for the best part of four decades, so it was only fitting that the veteran horseman took out the opening race of the season at the Palmerston North track. Pacing-bred trotter Highview Rockn Roll was having her first start for Cossey in the ITM Handicap Trot (2500m) and she made it count. The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven was able to find the one-one with a lap to go and driver Sailesh Abernethy asked her…
Local trainers hoping to snare Karaka riches at Cambridge
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Graeme Rogerson has been a frequent name on the buyers’ sheet at Karaka and the dual code trainer is hoping he can earn back some of his investment this week. Rogerson trains out of his Hamilton operation in partnership with Dylan Ferguson, and the pair will line-up promising filly Seaclusion in the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Fillies Final (2200m). Rogerson purchased the daughter of Sweet Lou out of Woodlands Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Standardbred Yearling Sale draft for $35,000 and she…
Dalgetys ready for big weekend ahead
By Jonny Turner Cran and Chrissie Dalgety have a big night ahead before they are at the centre of one of Australasia’s most anticipated races. The Dalgetys start a nice three horse team at Addington on Friday night as well as starting a debutante in New Zealand’s first two-year-old race of the new season. Once all of that is done, the Kentuckiana Lodge trainers will give Republican Party his shot at the exciting Captain Ravishing in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle. Ajira looks a big threat for the Dalgety…