Author: NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Inter Dominion Trotting favourite Bolt For Brilliance is still a chance to contest the series even after a disastrous New Zealand Cup week. The Rowe Cup winner was pulled out of the Dominion last Friday when he finished unplaced in the Worthy Queen Trot at Addington on Cup Day, with a veterinary examination finding he had mucus in his airway. That followed a below par performance at Kaikoura the week before, meaning the wonderful trotter has been unplaced back to back for the first time in a…

By Adam Hamilton Kiwi pacer Major Perry’s hopes of upsetting the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin juggernaut for a second successive week have been cruelled by an awful draw in the $200,000 Breeders Crown 3YO colts and geldings final at Melton on Saturday night. Major Perry’s semi-final win last Saturday night was the only win by a pacer not trained by Stewart and Tonkin across the eight pacing semis finals. But repeating it from gate 11 and against series big guns Captain Ravishing (gate five) and Ripp (three) is a…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Scott Dickson was pleased to head home from Manawatu Raceway with a winning double on Tuesday. The Hunterville trainer went to the Palmerston North track with six runners, with Addo Carr and Stac recording respective wins in the Mad Butcher Mobile Pace (2000m) and Pete’s Joinery & Building Mobile Pace (2000m). “Addo Carr went well. He came back from a long spell,” Dickson said. “He had a good run in an average field and got the job done. “Stac is a nice horse. He…

By Jonny Turner A big effort in the Hambletonian Classic looks great form for Master Class to take to Rangiora on Wednesday. Trainer-driver Kimberly Butt lines the three-year-old up in easier company after his big effort for sixth at Ashburton on Labour Day. Master Class finished just over three lengths behind Mystic Max in his record-breaking win after being sent to the unruly after getting himself worked up. “I was rapt with how he went, he obviously got himself stirred up, just going behind the mobile the first time he…

Check out the Box Seat’s special review of IRT New Zealand Cup and Show week with hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin.    

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Northern reinsman Nathan Delany is looking forward to heading to Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday where he will have seven drives on the eight-race card. Cambridge trainer Mike Berger has entrusted Delany to do the steering behind his two representatives and Delany has his eyes on the prize with About Turn in the Mad Butcher Wairarapa Cup Mobile Pace (2000m). “It is a race I would like to win myself. Wairarapa is a part of Wellington really, which is where I was brought up, so…

By Jonny Turner Punters shouldn’t read too much into which horse Nathan Williamson is driving when three of his stable clash in an even affair at Winton on Sunday. Williamson returns from Canterbury following the New Zealand Cup Carnival to line up Escobar, Foveaux Strait and Who’s Bettor in race 8, as well as Amass in race 2. The trainer drives Who’s Bettor but she doesn’t hold the number 1 seed among his runners in an intriguing mile contest. Starting fresh up and drawing one the second row both look…

Craig “The Whale” Thompson is back with his best for Winton today.