Author: NZHarnessNews

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk While New Zealand is arguably in the midst of its most competitive era of trotting in living memory, it has turned out that Group One winner Temporale’s biggest rival is the racing programme. With trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett unable to find a suitable race for the nine-year-old since his last start victory at Alexandra Park in June, they have been forced to start the son of Monarchy at the Auckland track on Thursday, where he will have to overcome a mammoth 55m…

By Michael Guerin A horse who was a maiden when Copy That won the New Zealand Cup just nine months ago could rain on his comeback parade at Alexandra Park tonight. Old Town Road may still have only won five races compared with Copy That’s 24 victories but their workout performances last week and handicaps tonight suggest Old Town Road can beat the glamour pacer in their 2200m clash. Copy That downed Self Assured and South Coast Arden in the Cup at Addington last but fractured a leg bone in…

By Jonny Turner Winter has been a quiet time for the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety stable but things will start to heat up for the trainers at Ashburton on Sunday. The Dalgetys head south with three starters including two debutante two-year-old fillies in Black Pearl and Light Up The Fire. Cran Dalgety is expecting a bold showing from both youngsters whose draws (Black Pearl 3 & Light Up The Fire 7) mean they go into race reasonably evenly matched. “They are both nice fillies and in a maiden field they…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Group One winner Oscar Bonavena will make his raceday return at Addington Raceway on Friday, a couple of weeks earlier than planned. Trainer Regan Todd was looking to kick-off his preparation in the Basil Dean Trotting FFA (2600m) later this month, but he has come to the aid of Addington Raceway this week to boost the field numbers in the Avon City Ford Free-For-All (1609m). He was initially set to trial at Ashburton Raceway on Tuesday, but will instead run around for a cheque…

By Jonny Turner Aint No Angel has the form and the draw to start the first Southland meeting in a while off on the right note for trainer Brad Williamson. Williamson heads south with three live chances who will step out at Wyndham on Thursday following the province’s short winter hiatus from racing. Smart filly Aint No Angel brings all the right form to race 4 following tidy efforts in competitive races at Addington. As respective as her last start fifth behind the talented Donmaro was, her trainer is expecting…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Regally-bred colt Yogi Son has a lot to live up to and he will begin that task at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday. The Majestic Son juvenile will make his debut in the 2YO Mobile Trot (1700m) and trainer Kyle Marshall said he will use the non-tote race as an educational outing for the colt who has won both of his trials to date. “He is well liked by everyone around the place, he has got a big following,” Marshall said. “With it being a…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Trainer Jeff Whittaker is hoping he will be popping open some bubbly at Addington Raceway after Moet Shard competes in the Lather Up Standing At Woodlands Stud NZ Mobile Pace (1980m) on Sunday. The Bettor’s Delight filly will be having her third start and has impressed in both of her previous outings, including third last start over 1980m at Addington Raceway. “She has come through her first two races well and she is starting to learn a little bit more what it is all…

By Joshua Smith Winning Bones is living up to his name of late and will be vying for his third win on-end when he contests the Fahey Fence Hire Handicap Trot (2600m) at Addington Raceway on Friday night. Trainer-driver Matthew Williamson has been thrilled with the way the son of Monkey Bones has been going but is wary of the step up in grade this week. “Because of the two wins he has jumped in grade a lot so it is going to be very hard for him in that…

By Michael Guerin Trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett have the dominant hand in four trotting races at Alexandra Park tonight but one of their runners has more motivation to perform than the others. The training couple can win all four trotting races depending on luck and manners but it is Aldebaran Keepa (R5, No.10)  who could seal an extended trip to Victoria for group 1 targets if she wins. The three-year-old filly is a last-start winner and has raced well at the elite three-year-old level behind the likes of…

Harness Racing New Zealand has today confirmed that there won’t be any changes to two of its biggest races this year. “It’s business as usual as far as we are concerned,” says HRNZ Chief Executive Gary Woodham, “the New Zealand Cup and the Dominion Trot will take place at Addington during Cup week and they will be held under the same conditions as they have in recent years.” There’s been a lot of discussion in recent days that some of New Zealand’s premier staying races, including the New Zealand Cup,…