Author: NZHarnessNews

Two highly-fancied northern stablemates are out of next month’s first ever Harness Grand Prix at Addington. Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have withdrawn both Merlin from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Colts and Geldings and also Advance Party from the Ace of Diamonds for the 2YO Pacing Fillies. Advance Party’s withdrawal follows her disappointing 12th in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes Fillies Final on Show Day at Addington, won by the unbeaten Millwood Nike, while Merlin ran a huge fourth behind Don’t Stop Dreaming in the Woodlands…

By Adam Hamilton Tony Herlihy isn’t about to make any excuses for Bolt For Brilliance in this Inter Dominion. Sure, we all know the challenges Herlihy has faced just getting his stable star to Victoria in recent weeks, but that’s history. “I’m looking forward now,” Herlihy said. “What happened is in the past. If there was even one small thing that worried me, I wouldn’t have brought him across.” Asked how close Bolt For Brilliance is to his top heading into the series, Herlihy sounded bullish. “He’s pretty close. He…

By Jonny Turner Daniel Anderson added to his family’s legacy in Southern racing when clinching his first victory as a driver at Ascot Park yesterday. The junior driver broke through for his maiden victory in his second season on the track when Superfastsuperstar lunged late to take out yesterday’s opener. Anderson has racing in his blood, but largely through the thoroughbred code. The reinsman is the nephew of leading Southland trainer Jo-Ann Gordon and grandson of the late Jack Gordon, a prolific preparer of winners and a Grand National winning…

By Michael Guerin James Stormont is looking forward to getting his stable star back to what works for him at Alexandra Park tonight. And that could make Hey Bartender the horse to beat in the main pace on the boosted stakes night to end the month. Hey Bartender has a reputation that exceeds his rating, being tagged as a future open class horse even though he is only rated 59 and has won just three races. It is hard to hide class though and the way he won one start…

Check out this week’s Box Seat  with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.    

Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the latest Addington News. 

All Stars chasing hard Team Telfer’s lead at the top of the trainers’ premiership has been cut to five. The brother-sister combo of Steve and Amanda Telfer have 85 wins for the year while closest rivals, the All Stars partnership of Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen are now at 80 after having eight wins in November including Group 1 doubles on Cup and Show Day. The Telfers in comparison have had a quieter November with four wins so far. Date and venue for awards A date and venue have been…

Geraldine is gearing up for one of its biggest days of the year, with 12 races scheduled for its annual pre-Christmas meeting on Saturday. After getting 259 nominations big wide open fields will be the order of the day. “The lure of grass track racing is real,” says Geraldine Trotting Club President Mark Weaver, “we have had tremendous support from owners, trainers, the public, and sponsors and on a good day we could have 2-3000 people on course.” Saturday’s meeting marks 75 years since the first harness racing meeting was…

By Jonny Turner A quality line up of drives awaits Oliver Kite at Ascot Park on Wednesday. The junior reinsman won’t lack horsepower when he combines with the talented Rakamurph in race 5. The two-year-old steps back in grade after starting in the Group One Sires Stakes Final on New Zealand Cup Day. The pacer looks thrown in on Wednesday, taking on maidens and first starters as a two-win horse. “He had a couple of days off after he came home from Christchurch,” Kite said. “He probably wasn’t at his…