By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Levin trainer Murray Gibbs was left in awe of his two mares at the conclusion of racing at Manawatu Raceway on Thursday. Manhattan Sunshine and Smokinhotcheddar gave Gibbs a winning double and he couldn’t have been happier. “I am pinching myself, I am really pleased,” Gibbs said. “They are two nice horses that haven’t had a lot of racing luck the entire season and things have just fallen into place recently. “They have been working well all season and the horses deserve it.” Manhattan…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Sundees Son to join millionaires club tonight
By Michael Guerin John Dunn wants his old mate Sundees Son to enter the millionaire’s club in style. So while tonight’s $20,000 Woodlands Stud Free-For-All at Addington (7.17pm) is only the start point of a huge autumn campaign, Dunn would love to win to stamp the historic occasion. Recently-crowned Horse of the Year, Sundees Son goes into tonight’s 2600m standing start on $999,667 in career stakes so will join the elite millionaire’s club regardless, a remarkable achievement considering he has never raced in Australia. With so much more racing in…
Key lead-up meeting at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin The meeting before the even bigger meeting should always be viewed with caution by harness racing punters but tonight’s Alexandra Park meeting still presents some great opportunities. The 11-race meeting brings together many of the stars who will chase far bigger targets next Friday, including the Northern Derby and Oaks and the two Young Guns Finals, the first juvenile features of the season. Tonight’s meeting also hosts an open class pacing sprint which is the next round of Self Assured versus South Coast Arden and while they…
Selections | Addington – Tonight
Commentator Matt Cross makes his selections for Addington tonight. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Matt Cross Commentator Race 15.27pm 11 Major Icon3 Rodasi5 Bettor Be Sharp1 Van Shard Race 25.56pm 1 Vertigo5 Harbour Queen7 Ali Lindenny8 Martha Stuart Race 36.27pm 10 Lochart Shard4 Sneak A Peek1 Judgement Bay8 Glorys Delight Race 46.52pm 8 Wotsonyamind3 Acento6 Luella7 Franco Norton Race 57.17pm 7 Sundees Son2 Muscle Mountain4 Mataderos1 Five Wise Men Race 67.46pm 4 One Change5 AG’s White Socks2 Allamericanlover6 Classie Brigade Race 78.13pm 7 Repeat Pat14 Cochy Malc9 Time Up…
Roy Purdon to get new race in his name
A new race honouring the late Roy Purdon has been confirmed for Alexandra Park on Friday May 20. The patriarch of one of racing’s most successful and famous families died on February 2, aged 94, after a career that saw him train a total of 2109 winners, including 54 Group Ones. He was the country’s champion trainer on 21 occasions, either on his own account or in partnership with son Barry. “It’s an awesome idea,” said Roy’s daughter Suzanne Herlihy. It was conceived by the Auckland Trotting Club. “We just…
Persistence rewarded at Timaru
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk South Canterbury trainer Mike Curry admits “it was all pretty emotional” when his project horse Real Men Wear Pink won his first race at Timaru yesterday. “We had to start from scratch with him,” says Curry, who lives and trains at Washdyke Racecourse, “it’s taken hours and hours but he’s a lovely boy.” By Art Major out of seven-race winner Chanelle Bromac, Real Men Wear Pink opened his account at start number three after Morrison slotted the four-year-old gelding into the one-one and…
Speeding Spirit shows true worth
By Jonny Turner Speeding Spirit’s story is a typical trotting tale. The four-year-old broke maidens in style at Timaru on Wednesday, charging at the line late to clinch victory for trainer Ross Wilson and driver Matthew Williamson. Speeding Spirit had given Wilson and son Jesse who race the trotter plenty of headaches leading up to his win. The square-gaiter had shown talent but had broken in the majority of his races until running a nice third on his home track at Oamaru in his last outing. That performance and his…
Phelan answers eleventh-hour call
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Mathew Hickey is a relieved man after northern reinsman Scott Phelan answered his eleventh-hour call to drive Get On The Sauce at Manawatu Raceway on Thursday. The four-year-old trotter missed the opening day of the meeting due to a lack of senior drivers and Hickey said he was looking down the barrel of a similar result on Thursday, however, Phelan was able to answer his prayers. “Our problem has been a driver. We couldn’t get a driver on the first day, that is why…
Addington Weekly : March 16
Here’s Greg O’Connor and Darrin Williams with the Addington News – March 16 .
News Briefs : March 16
Team Teal finishes at Manawatu The 2022 Teal Pants campaign is officially over, with 53 wins recorded between February 1 and yesterday’s final meeting at Manawatu. Sarah O’Reilly finished as the top driver with 11 wins, including two yesterday with Petronelli Gee and Southern Storm. The total raised for ovarian cancer research is expected to top $12,000 thanks to contributions from Harness Racing New Zealand, clubs and sponsors. A final tally will be known later this month. Keeping with the Jones’ The well-performed trotter Majestic Lavros has changed trainers, from…