by Michael Guerin One Mhor For Heather is doing exactly what was named to do. And that is win races so her owners could remember and celebrate in the name of the late harness racing owner Heather Williams. Heather, with her husband Lex, raced some wonderful horses before Heather sadly passed in November 2020. One of thosd good horses they owned together was One Over Da Moon, the Jewels winner of his juvenile year, who has since stood at stud and sired some smart trotters. Enter the fray Heather’s friends…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Purdon hoping for one more Inter Dominion miracle
by Michael Guerin Champion trainer Mark Purdon worries he may be all out of Inter Dominion miracles. Purdon and son Nathan take Oscar Bonavena to Albion Park in Brisbane tonight for the A$500,000 Inter Dominion Trotting Final, the veteran trotter joining fellow Kiwi trotter Bet N Win in giving New Zealand a great chance of winning the 3157m mobile iconic event. The only problem is Oscar Bonavena has finished just seventh and sixth in his two heats of the series, hardly Inter Dominion winning form, and he will need a…
From Mataura to Brisbane: Millie’s Inter Dominion debut
Millie Bond’s love of harness racing started young. One of her earliest memories is sitting on her dad’s lap as he jogged a horse called Crusher Collins around their home track in Gore. “I had a big smile on my face,” she says. “It was the first time I felt the excitement of being on a horse moving.” Now 16, Millie is chasing that same feeling, this time on one of harness racing’s biggest stages. On Saturday night, she will represent New Zealand in the ID25 Mini Trots Championship Final…
Williamson strikes twice on Winter Rewards Day
by Jonny Turner Brad Williamson’s winning double on Winter Rewards Day at Winton on Thursday brought delight to owners across New Zealand. The Oamaru trainer-driver produced Aint No Angel to win her second Winter Rewards Final, as well as scoring with Tabasco. After producing strong form in handy company recently, Aint No Angel saved her best for Southland’s biggest day of harness racing so far. The mare’s victory sits alongside the Winter Rewards Final she produced at Addington last year for Oturehua (Central Otago) breeder-owners Neville Armstrong, Rusty Nevill, and…
Team Telfer surge transforms premiership race
by Michael Guerin Even for the man with a plan Steve Telfer is stunned how quickly the New Zealand harness racing trainer’s premiership may have become a one-stable race. Telfer and his sister/training partner Amanda go into this weekend’s racing 16 wins clear in the premiership after being 16 behind Michael House just two months ago. It has been a staggering turnaround but one Telfer all but predicted, just not at this record speed. “We had a plan to race a good team through winter, when the stakes are almost…
Tough test for Sadie, but class may carry her through
by Michael Guerin Trainer Matty Williamson admits tonight’s Ricoh Canterbury Silk Road Final isn’t the perfect race for Princess Sadie. But he says that doesn’t mean the speedy four-year-old can’t still win it. Williamson trains and drives the five-win mare who has been one of the best of her age at two and three. She now faces taking on older horses at every start and often, like tonight, that also means stepping up in distance. “She is a real speed mare so the 2600m handicap probably isn’t ideal for her,”…
Top mares set for new spring racing series
by Michael Guerin New Zealand’s best pacing mare is set to add her stamp of class to a new series of races being widely welcomed by trainers. HRNZ has announced the new Mare’s Spring Schedule to provide consistent racing for mares without having to take on the boys. The Canterbury-based series of six races starts at Addington on August 29 and runs through until Show Day at Addington on November 14, where it ends with the Bob McArdle Classic. It contains a $17,000 kick off race, one race of $25,000,…
Oscar primed for one final Inter Dominion tilt
by Adam Hamilton Oscar Bonavena has at least one more booming run in him. Co-trainer Nathan Purdon said the nine-year-old “looked a million bucks” as the $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final draws closer. “I’m pleasantly surprised how good he is, especially after the two mistakes and the chasing he had to do the other night,” he said. “I was just saying this morning how sound he is and how great he looks. “He might have looked a bit showy last Saturday, but he’s spot on now.” This time there is…
News Briefs: Kiwis chasing titles, stallion rosters revealed
Herbertson leads as Kiwi quartet chase in Young Drivers Champs The 2025 Australasian Young Drivers Championship is heating up, with Victoria’s James Herbertson staking a dominant early claim as the competition leader heading into the final rounds. Three heats were held at Albion Park on Tuesday night and another three last night, where all four of the New Zealand representatives recorded a placing: Carter has two second placings, and Sam, Wilson and Harrison have a third placing each. But it’s Herbertson who’s set the benchmark, notching up three wins and…
Gray lining up powerful 12-horse team
by Jonny TurnerSouthland’s biggest day of winter harness racing so far is looking Gray. Brett Gray lines up a powerful 12-horse team at Winton’s Winter Rewards Finals Day on Thursday. Beating her stablemates may prove to be the biggest challenge for Gray’s stable spearhead Haley Jaccka in the tightest assessed of three Winter Rewards Finals for pacers. The mare returned from a freshener with a bang, powering along the inner to win a hectic affair at Ascot Park ten days ago. And according to her trainer, she’s thrived since. “That…