Author: NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Michael House continued his dominance at Manawatu Raceway on Thursday when posting another five-win haul, while his son Wilson House wasn’t to be outdone, bookending the seven-race meeting for the stable. The Canterbury junior reinsman kicked off the night in winning style for his father when making light work of Break Free’s 40m handicap in the Cartown Handicap Trot (2500m) to record a three-quarter of a length victory. “He did trot really well but went a bit rough coming into the straight, but that…

There are a lot of fingers being crossed in South Canterbury this week, as the Timaru Harness Racing Club prepares for one of its biggest meetings of the year on Saturday. Of the 10 races on the all-weather track at the Phar Lap Raceway the feature is the $20,000 Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup. “Some overnight rain and a shower in the morning will set the track up nicely for the twilight race meeting” says Club past president Liz Shand, “the rain tends to go around us here …. we…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Manawatu today.     

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  He’d heard plenty about it beforehand but visiting harness racing personality Paul Campbell says New Zealand Cup and Show Week far exceeded his own high expectations. “This is how and why you fall in love with harness racing,” he says. The Victorian-based Australian, who has thousands of Facebook and Twitter followers on his harness racing platform Campbell’s Comments, was brought here by Harness Racing New Zealand and NZ Bloodstock to see New Zealand Cup and Show week for himself. During his 10 days…

By Jonny Turner Kerryn Tomlinson hopes that she’s driving the pick of Brad Williamson trained trio who go head-to-head at Winton today. Tomlinson is holding down the fort at home base with the assistance of her fellow staff members and the Williamson family as Brad seeks Group One glory with Aroha Kenny in a Breeders Crown Final at Melton on Saturday night. Back home, three of Williamson’s talented trotting mares will clash at Winton with Night Watch, Mixed Faith and Laurie’s Legacy doing battle in race 5. The tempo of…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk The way Taliesin won on Tuesday night many will be thinking the seven-year-old is an absolute shoo-in at Manawatu tonight. Trainer Michael House isn’t quite as sure. The son of Shadow Play led from the start and cleared out to win by more than four lengths in the Colin Campbell Mobile Pace (2000m) in 2:27.4. “He was the fastest of the night by nearly two seconds,” says trainer Michael House, who had four winners on Tuesday and has a team of 22 engaged …

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Brad Williamson is hoping the time and effort he’s put in are worth it. This Saturday he partners Aroha Kenny in the Aldebaran Park Breeders Crown Series 25 Final for the 2YO Trotting Fillies at Melton Park in Victoria after a hectic fortnight that’s seen him criss-crossing the Tasman as he juggles drives behind her and multiple Group 1 winner Majestic Man. “It’s been busy alright, there’s been a lot of travel and a lot of miles,” he says. Williamson drove Majestic Man…

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

An important date is looming for breeders and owners with yearlings eligible for the next Sires’ Stakes Series. December 1 is the final day for two-year-old sustaining payments for Series 40. The series, with over $500,000 in stakes for the heats and three finals, comes at a time when there are unprecedented racing opportunities for juvenile horses. After Harness Racing New Zealand’s change to the horses’ birthdate, and the restructuring of the racing calendar, the 2022 season is set to break a decade-long record for the most number of starts,…