By Adam Hamilton There wasn’t much to smile about at the Hunter Cup barrier draw for the Kiwi raiders at Melton on Saturday night. Dual NZ Cup hero Copy That drew awkwardly out wide on the front row (gate six), while Old Town Road landed the worst possible marble, outside the back row (13). Surprisingly, Copy That’s odds were slashed from $3.20 into $2.40 despite the draw. And trainer Ray Green remained optimistic. “I don’t mind the draw. He can make his own luck from there,” he said. “Sure, there’s…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Kiwi trio front up in Sydney
By Adam Hamilton The Kiwis launch their Sydney assault from Saturday night. High-class pacers B D Joe, Alta Wiseguy and Republican Party all step-out at Menangle on Saturday night. It’s an important race for Republican Party in the Group 3 Hondo Grattan, a qualifier for the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire on February 18. “He arrived across last weekend and has settled into Menangle well,” co-trainer Chrissie Dalgety said. “He’s ready to go and the plan is for Carter (Dalgety) to drive him this week with Blair (Orange) down in…
Copy That and Old Town Road provide Kiwi star power to Hunter Cup
By Adam Hamilton There was a sigh of relief when Josh Dickie saw the final field for the Hunter Cup at Melton this Saturday night. Dickie’s charge Old Town Road made the cut, but probably only just. The inclusion of Expensive Ego, Rock N Roll Doo and Hurricane Harley into the final 12 caused quite some angst among those on the fringe and ultimately forced out pacers like former Kiwi Cranbourne (first emergency), the unlucky Petes Said So and outstanding four-year-old Catch A Wave. Team McCarthy changed heart late last…
Rough And Ready wins Cambridge Gold Cup Final
By Michael Guerin Arna Donnelly says there were two deserved winners when Rough And Ready captured the $20,000 Cambridge Gold Cup Final on Monday. One was the horse himself while the other were owners Robert and Sharon Symon for their belief and support of the horse when he often found himself in races beyond his reach. “This horse has won 13 races, which is no small feat,” says Donnelly, who quinellaed the race with Bad Medicine running second. “He has been a real warrior, racing all last winter and taking…
Flood damage in Auckland
Harness Racing NZ would like to offer our thoughts and support to all those who have been affected by the current weather situation in the North Island. If anyone requires support the HRNZ funded Vitae Service for all licence holders is available, and we encourage you to use this service if you need some help – https://www.vitae.co.nz/ If you have water damage don’t forget to contact your Insurance company or broker, take photos of everything, check your policies and document all of your damage and potential losses. We are aware…
A century for Waldron
By Michael Guerin When Ben Waldron reached the biggest milestone of his career at Methven on Sunday he could see the funny side of it. “That was the slowest century since Geoff Boycott,” says Waldron his 100th career training success. Boycott is the famous England cricket player known for his notoriously slow scoring rate and Waldron, to be fair, has taken 27 years of training to get to three figures. But in reality it is a hell of an effort, he has rarely trained big numbers or lined up a…
Butcher confident with Zarias in Gold Cup
Don’t let Zarias’s standing start record fool you in today’s Cambridge Gold Cup. Because while the promising pacer has just one placing in two attempts from behind the tapes trainer-driver Zachary Butcher says today’s $20,000 standing start over 2700m will suit his five-year-old. Zarias was a good last-start winner after a smart Monika Ranger drive when able to blast the gate from a mobile start, trail and use the passing lane but he goes up in grade today and back behind the tapes. He also faces a 20m handicap with…
New Blog Post
Don’t let Zarias’s standing start record fool you in today’s Cambridge Gold Cup. Because while the promising pacer has just one placing in two attempts from behind the tapes trainer-driver Zachary Butcher says today’s $20,000 standing start over 2700m will suit his five-year-old. Zarias was a good last-start winner after a smart Monika Ranger drive when able to blast the gate from a mobile start, trail and use the passing lane but he goes up in grade today and back behind the tapes. He also faces a 20m handicap with…
Aussie News – Majestic Man wins Dullard Cup
VETERAN Kiwi trotting star Majestic Man overcame a huge betting drift to win a second Dullard Cup at Melton last night. The Phil Williamson-trained star drifted from $2.70 out to $8, but won an early speed burn to find the lead and never really looked in danger. “Dad’s been looking after him and said he was great going into it,” driver Brad Williamson said. “He felt terrific in front and it’s a great start to another trip over here. “He’ll go to the Great Southern Star now (next Friday) night…
Hurrell thrilled with Playboy’s cup win
by Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell enjoyed one of the biggest thrills of his career when winning the Wairio Cup with Robyns Playboy on Saturday. Hurrell produced a perfectly-timed steer to help the horse known as The Beast From The East bounce back to his best form. Robyns Playboy came into the Wairio Cup after producing a mixed bag of form since winning the Tuapeka Cup in his first start back from an Australian campaign. Though he was only sixth of seven behind Macandrew Aviator in the Northern Southland Cup last…