Author: NZHarnessNews

Over half a million dollars will be on offer in next year’s Sires’ Stakes races for the country’s top three-year-old pacers and trotters. The changes to the racing calendar will see the Garrard’s Horse & Hound Colts and Geldings at Addington on May 12th, the Magness Benrow Fillies and Lone Star Trotters at Alexandra Park a week later (May 19) and the prestigious Nevele R 3YO Fillies race on NZ Cup Day in November. “The final stakes haven’t been determined yet but we are thinking the four key races will…

by Bruce Stewart  After the first two races at Invercargill on Saturday were won by favourites, the following race provided a major boilover with twelve start maiden Stunin Star winning at odds of 101-1. It was the Stunin Cullen mare’s first run for new trainer Adrian Wohlers, having taken over from previous owner-trainer Richard Austin. Driver Jeremy Douglas settled Stunin Star beyond midfield from her second line draw. At the five hundred the four-year-old was travelling, so as horses tried to improve Douglas made his move and Stunin Star cruised…

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Backburn was rewarded for his consistency when winning his maiden at Addington Raceway last week and trainer Katie Cox is hoping for a repeat performance at the Christchurch track on Sunday. The four-year-old son of Sir Lincoln had placed in four of his previous five outings and Cox was thrilled he was finally able to get his maiden victory. “He deserved it, he had been going good races and it was good that he could hold off the other one,” Cox said. “He seems…

By Jonny Turner Mark Hurrell continued his great run with trotters when Port Pegasus strode to victory at Ascot Park on Saturday. Hurrell took no chances with the four-year-old, urging him to the lead at the 500m before the trotter continued his grand run of recent form in race 10. It was an all Eastern Southland result with Port Pegasus trained at Gore by Brian Norman raced by Wyndham breeder-owner Ian Hunter. “He went good, he has been going really well lately,” Hurrell said. “I don’t think I have run…

By Adam Hamilton  Gifted former Kiwi pacer Magnificent Storm took his first step towards an Inter Dominion assault with a first-up win at Gloucester Park last night. The victory kick-started a memorable night for trainer Ray Williams, who also won the main race, the Group 3 Im Themightyquinn, with another former Kiwi gelding, Ezana. “I’d love to keep this strike rate up,” Williams said. It was Magnificent Storm’s first run since finishing fourth in the Group 1 WA Pacing Cup back on February 4. He has now won 20 of…

By Jonny Turner Robin Swain heads to Ascot Park on Saturday with two horses on the improve. Swain starts both Magnetic Terror and The Big Lebowski who both look genuine eachway threats while Steel Crusher will step out as the roughie among the trainer’s three-horse team. Magnetic Terror heads into race 4 on the back of a good fresh up third in his first race in almost 14 months. “He hadn’t had a race for a year, he had a wee niggle, it wasn’t anything major but he had a…