By Adam Hamilton The trademark Tony Herlihy cheeky grin was back at Ballarat last night. That’s because normal programming resumed and his stable star Bolt For Brilliance put a testing few weeks behind him to easily win his opening round Inter Dominion heat. The win saw his Grand Final odds tumble from $2.60 to $2. There wasn’t anything special about the win, but it was simply the fact he showed he was over his setback and had settled well in Victoria. The race changed when Sundons Courage crossed favourite Majestuoso…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Betta Watch Out on trial for Ace Of Diamonds
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Brett Gray is hoping Betta Watch Out can keep her undefeated record intact at Addington Raceway on Sunday as she prepares for a tilt at the Group 1 Ace Of Diamonds (1980m) next week. The two-year-old daughter of He’s Watching has won both of her starts to date in Southland and Gray is looking forward to testing his filly against some northern opposition in Christchurch in the Aces ‘All In’ 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace (1980m). “She has had a couple of nice wins. It…
Homebush Lad speeds to Geraldine Cup win
By Jonny Turner Homebush Lad started what could be an epic summer when he zoomed up the inner to win the Geraldine Cup at Orari on Saturday. The Greg and Nina Hope trained pacer didn’t exactly make a flying beginning, but it worked in his favour when he slotted into a sweet spot three-back on the markers. Saturday saw the last scheduled running of the Geraldine Cup at Orari and Ben Hope was thrilled for his name to go into the history books. “It is nice to win a nice…
Northern raider snares Trotting Oaks
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge trainer Sean McCaffrey loves when a plan comes together and that is exactly what happened at Addington Raceway on Friday night when Con Grazia Love won the Group 1 ‘What The Hill’ at Woodlands New Zealand Trotting Oaks (1980m). “We are very happy. When you come on a mission it is very fulfilling when you get it accomplished,” McCaffrey said. “You have got to figure that you are good enough for a start and she just keeps stepping up and we are lucky…
Whale Watch – Geraldine – today
Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Geraldine today.
Got You Covered aims at another grass cup
By Jonny Turner Got You Covered will freefall down in grade and land in his happy place on Saturday. The grass track specialist will attempt to add another grass track feature to his already impressive resume when starting in the Geraldine Cup at Orari. Though Got You Covered takes on a stellar line up in the staying test, he does step back in class given he mixed it with Australasia’s best pacers in his last start in the New Zealand Free-For-All at Addington. After copping a horror gate in barrier…
Conditions approved for Group 1 $100,000 Invercargill Cup
After much discussion it’s been decided the upcoming Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup will be run as a handicap race, with a back mark of 20 metres. Just how the 3200 metre feature would be run has been a major talking point since it was confirmed it would have Group 1 status from this year. It was a Group 3 previously. “It’s good news,” says Invercargill Harness Racing Club President Craig Heyrick, “the local trainers will be happy as the Cup’s a big focal point for them.” “Southern…
Butt prospecting more gold at Addington
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Bob Butt enjoyed Group success with Gold Chain and he is now looking to replicate those results with her two-year-old son Gold Bullion at Addington Raceway on Friday. The Father Patrick gelding has tasted success in his two starts and will be out to extend that winning record in the Group 2 Lone Star Sires’ Stakes 2YO Championship Mobile Trot (1980m). “He has taken it all in his stride and he seems quite a nice horse,” Butt said. “He seems well, has been trotting…
Talent far from hidden with talented filly
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Hidden Talent’s abilities are far from unknown as she prepares for her first tilt at elite level at Addington Raceway on Friday. The Bacardi Lindy filly has won all four of her starts to date, including the Group 3 Sires’ Stakes Classique Mobile Trot (1980m) at the Christchurch track in September. She will return to Addington on Friday where she will contest the Group 1 ‘What The Hill’ At Woodlands NZ Trotting Oaks (1980m). “I am pretty excited and hopefully she runs a good…
Neptune has timely win for Ray Green
By Michael Guerin Neptune gave everybody in harness racing the feel-good story they wanted at Alexandra Park on Thursday night after a horror week for trainer Ray Green. The popular 77-year-old horseman, who just two weeks ago won his second New Zealand Cup with Copy That, has been in hospital since Monday when he was kicked in the stomach by a horse. Green needed a seven-hour operation and has had small sections of his colon and bowel removed, having to have a bag fixed for at least the next three…