Craig “The Whale” Thompson shares his thoughts on Auckland tonight.
Author: NZHarnessNews
South Coast Arden on the improve
By Michael Guerin NZ Free-For-All winner South Coast Arden is looking increasingly likely to be back for next week’s Flying Mile at Cambridge. The outstanding pacer missed last Friday’s Messenger at Alexandra Park after trainer Brent Mangos found mucus in his throat on race morning. The giant pacer has missed little work because of the setback and his endoscopic examinations are improving all the time. “When I had him scoped last week it wasn’t bad, the vet said like a 3 out of 5 but by today (Thursday morning) it…
Cromwell gets new dates in 2022-23 Racing Calendar
The racing calendar for the 2022-23 season has been confirmed, and there are some changes for harness racing in both islands. “As always it’s a real jigsaw puzzle,” says Harness Racing New Zealand – General Manager Racing Catherine McDonald, “and is the result of months of consultation between us, the TAB, thoroughbreds and the greyhounds.” The biggest change is that Cromwell will get two new days on February 24 and February 26, 2023. The meetings will be hosted by the Wyndham Trotting Club. “This is a growing region which is…
Pacing-bred fillies dominate Northern Trotting Oaks market
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk The Alabar Northern Trotting Oaks (2200m) has attracted a promising line-up, but it is two pacing-bred fillies that are dominating the market for tonight’s Group 3 feature at Alexandra Park. The two favoured runners for the race, Double Delight ($1.75)and Rakero Blaze ($4), are both pacing bred, but neither showed a tendency to continue in their expected gait. Double Delight displayed her trotting talents as a two-year-old, winning all three of her juvenile outings, including victory in the Group 1 Harness Jewels 2YO Ruby…
Addington Weekly : May 4
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the Addington News – May 4.
Big rewards in offing over winter
After the success of the recent RATTO series at Addington over Easter a similar series is being planned for this winter. It will be called the Winter Rewards Series, and will be run on a regional basis, with pacers and trotters at three venues – Wyndham, Addington and Alexandra Park. “The whole idea is to ensure good sized fields throughout the winter,” says Harness Racing New Zealand, General Manager – Racing Catherine McDonald, “and to reward those horses that are racing a lot and essentially being the backbone of our…
Plans for equine rehab programme to expand
A South Island equine rehabilitation programme, credited with helping dozens of people, is eyeing an expansion to the North Island. In recent years the programme has been run by Terry Kingi and a faithful support crew out of his property in North Canterbury, with the help of six standardbreds. Terry has retrained these standardbreds for his programme after they have retired from the sport of racing. “You can tell from their eyes and posture if they are going to be a goodie or not,” says Kingi, “standies are good because…
News Briefs : May 6
Hay cashes in at Rangiora Wheels Of Fortune’s commanding win at Rangiora on Sunday brought up 600 training successes for John Hay. The Ashburton-based trainer-driver took the three year old straight to the front. The result was never in doubt as they won by more than three lengths. Hay’s 600 training wins have come from 4193 starts going back to the early 1980s. Hay’s also driven 1119 winners. Over the years Hay’s been associated with many of the Franco horses from when he trained at Spreydon Lodge. Among his highlights…
The Box Seat – May 3
Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin join us for this week’s edition of the Box Seat.
Messenger winning combo out for more Group One glory
Fresh from their upset Messenger triumph, Jason Grimson and Cam Hart will chase another Group 1 win at Menangle on Saturday night. One of the new “power combos” of Aussie harness racing team with leviathan owner Danny Zavitsanos and the much-improved Ideal Dan in the $210,000 Australian Gold 4YO Entires and Geldings final (1609m). Ideal Dan showed promise for the dominant Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable, but has been a revelation with five wins from as many starts since joining Grimson’s Menangle stable. “We really like him, but this…