By Jonny Turner The team behind Cranbourne have absolutely no plans to reveal their tactics ahead of the New Zealand Free-For-All. The rugged five-year-old looks to hold one of three trump cards on the front line and just what driver Matthew Williamson will do early in the race will be vital. Cranbourne, who has drawn barrier 4, is known as a horse that loves to roll along at a hot pace. To his outer is noted gate flyer Spankem (6), as well as the early favourite Rock N Roll Doo…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Oaks dress rehearsal for Cambridge filly
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Cambridge filly Con Grazia Love will have one final hit-out on her home track on Friday before heading south to tackle the Group 1 New Zealand Trotting Oaks (1980m) at Addington Raceway later this month. The daughter of Love You has won her last two starts and will face stiff opposition in the Thames Trotters Cup (2700m), which has been more by chance than design. “She is a nice filly. I wanted to run her in a mobile three-year-old race but that didn’t get…
Sundees Son vying for Dominion hat-trick
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Sundees Son will be vying to win three consecutive editions of the Group 1 Dominion Trot (3200m) when he heads to Addington Raceway on Friday. TAB bookmakers believe the Champion trotter can achieve the rare feat, installing the seven-year-old a $1.70 favourite for the Renwick Farms-sponsored race. There were questions surrounding the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained square-gaiter after he broke in his first two starts this preparation, but he returned to his brilliant best when winning the Gr.3 South Bay Cup (2400m) at Kaikoura…
Team Telfer – “we will lead”
By Michael Guerin Team Telfer are approaching a Group 1 double at Addington with the same attitude that is winning them the New Zealand trainers’ premiership. So expect take-no-prisoners tactics from their drivers in both the Airpark Canterbury $200,000 New Zealand Pacing Free-For-All and the Dunstan Horsefeeds $150,000 Sires’ Stakes Fillies Final at Addington on Friday. The brother and sister team of Steve and Amanda Telfer may be just seven weeks away from winning the trainers’ premiership for the first time, with a seven-win margin over the Dunns and the…
Whale Watch – Ashburton – Today
Craig “The Whale” Thompson looks at Ashburton today.
Butt trio to make an impact at Ashburton
By Jonny Turner Form upgrades look on the cards for the three horses Bob Butt takes to Ashburton on Thursday. Bookmakers have kept the trio safe in betting markets with Clouding Over made the early $2.50 favourite for race 4. The filly is at that short quote on the back of a strong trial at Addington after recently joining the Butt stable. “I haven’t had her for too long, she was with Terry Chmiel and she arrived about six weeks ago,” Butt said. “I have been happy with her, she…
Third time lucky for Rock N Roll Doo?
By Michael Guerin Aussie star Rock N Roll Doo should get his shot at Cup week redemption in the $200,000 Airpark Canterbury NZ Free-For-All at Addington on Friday. The Victoria Cup winner lost all chance with an early gallop in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, the second time he has missed away from a standing start on this trip. But he returns to a more favourable mobile start for the 1980m Group 1 on Friday and has a handy front line draw at barrier 5. While it won’t be…
Latest TAB market movers for IRT New Zealand Cup
This afternoon’s IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington is considered wide open, and support has come for many different runners. The race is set to go at 5.36pm at Addington. Some of the latest market movers have been : Copy That (8) $3.6 out to $3.8, now back to $3.6 2x $1,000 @ $3.8 3x $500 @ $3.8 2x $300 @ $3.8 $480 @ $3.6 Rock N Roll Doo (13) $6 into $5 $200 @ $6 $2,000 @ $5.5 $200 @ $5.5 $500 @ $5 $315 E/W @ $5 2x…
Can Copy That go back to back?
By Michael Guerin Punters look set to jump aboard the Copy That rollercoaster in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington today but the ride may not be too scary for a very simple reason: the race is in New Zealand. The defending champion will start favourite in the $600,000 iconic race even though today’s race is much deeper and more layered than the Cup he led and won last season. In Australian stars Rock N Roll Doo and Majestic Cruiser there are two outstanding proven Group 1 raiders,…
McIlwrick out to continue good form
By Jonny Turner Rory McIlwrick will be out to continue his hot form in the sulky at Wyndham on Sunday, but whether he can do it might not be up to him. McIlwrick teams up with two horses that have a good amount of ability, but they have to be in the right mood to show it. Top Pocket Chance, who steps out in race 6, is known as a trotter with the capability of pulling off an upset when the mood strikes. The Craig Buchan trained sqauregaiter doesn’t bring…