By Adam Hamilton Will there be any real pressure on King Of Swing to hold the lead in this Miracle Mile? That’s been the burning question all week with most people thinking and/or hoping that pressures come from slick beginner Mach Dan and exciting young gun Bondi Lockdown. So, we got the last word from the drivers of both ahead of the Miracle Mile where King Of Swing is an easing $1.65 favourite to create history and become the first three-time winner. Nathan Jack, who drives Newcastle Mile winner Mach…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Hopes and Dunn double up
John Dunn got a box seat view of Highgrove’s competition when driving the promising Mr Love to victory at Addington on Thursday night. Dunn played super-sub for the Greg and Nina Hope stable for the suspended Ben Hope, driving the smart three-year-old and his stablemate Jack Ryan to victory. Dunn admitted his own smart three-year-old Highgrove may have some stiff competition coming up following Mr Love’s smart win in race 4. “He has always been a nice horse this fellow, but time is going to be his best friend,” the…
Grub’s up at Methven.
The Hororata Trotting Club and the Canterbury Trotting Owners Association will be running a BBQ at the Methven meeting on Sunday. Thanks to the generousity of the good people at IRT and Harness Racing Unhinged, the BBQ will be going from approx 1-3pm. Come along and say hi and get your free snarler (or two).
Best of the best to be recognised at HRNZ awards
Just who will be crowned Horse of the Year will be known tomorrow night. The NZB Airfreight Harness Racing New Zealand awards for the 2020-21 season will be held at Addington Raceway, with the Terror To Love and Silks Lounges each holding up to 100 people, as per current Covid protocols. The awards have been delayed several times because of the pandemic. More than 30 awards will be given out, including the most coveted of them all, Horse of the Year. We don’t want to give too much away but…
Tornado Valley – “he won races you dream of winning”
By Adam Hamilton Champion trotter Tornado Valley has been retired. Trainer Andy Gath confirmed the former Kiwi, who won 10 Group 1 races, had run his last race after finishing a close third at Melton last Saturday night. Tornado Valley started his career in New Zealand, where he had seven wins from 57 starts. He was bred by Petina Gaugler and Ashburton trainer-driver Terry MacMillan. He was by Skyvalley out of Gaugler’s Sundon mare Begin. In 2018 he was bought by Gath’s major owner Norm Jenkin and moved to Victoria.…
Anderson’s big weekend starts at Winton
By Jonny Turner A massive weekend for Graeme Anderson and his owners starts at Winton on Friday. Anderson and training partner Mike Love line up three strong chances at Central Southland Raceway. Then on Saturday night their former stable star Spirit Of St Louis, who Anderson and his fellow owners still share in the ownership of, starts in the Miracle Mile. Making an even bigger weekend bigger, Anderson and some of Spirit Of St Louis’ owners even have a galloper starting at Wingatui on Saturday. Anderson and Love step out…
It’s Purdon vs Mangos at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Two horsemen who teamed up for Group One success just a few months ago will be each other’s biggest concern in two of the hottest races at Alexandra Park tonight. And while champion trainer Mark Purdon doesn’t lose too many one-on-one battles he admits Brent Mangos could cause him some problems tonight. The pair unofficially teamed up last spring when Mangos couldn’t travel south because of Covid restrictions so Purdon and his partners Natalie Rasmussen and Hayden Cullen looked after his stable star South Coast Arden all…
Selections | Auckland – Tonight
Trottech’s selections for tonight’s meeting at Alexandra Park – March 4. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race TrottechForm Analyst Race 16.19pm 5 Special Way3 Aardiebythehill2 Regal Attire6 Kings Landing Race 26.49pm 4 Old Town Road6 Melanion5 Bettor Listen2 Cyrus Race 37.19pm 9 Liaison6 Isla Elsie7 Dream Of You2 American Muscle Race 47.44pm 6 True Fantasy3 Miki Montana5 Artisan1 Cover Girl Race 58.09pm 4 The Notorious R B G 5 Kahlua Flybye2 Acushla Machree1 Aardiebytheseaside Race 68.34pm 2 Akuta6 Beach Ball4 Franco Mac5 Franco Indie Race 79.04pm 4…
Ray Green – home at last
After months away from home Ray Green is grateful he’s back and he knows he’s had it a lot better than many trying to get back into the country. The 76-year-old returned to Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe this week, after heading to Australia in December with New Zealand Cup winner Copy That, only to find out he couldn’t get home. Having not booked a a place in quarantine before he left Green tried unsuccessfully to enter the MIQ lottery though he considers himself lucky in comparison to many. “I had…
Another Cullen brings up 50
by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk What is it with the sons of Christian Cullen bringing up their 50th wins in the USA? Last weekend it was Christen Me (Christian Cullen – Splendid Dreams) who brought up the milestone in Ohio. The former New Zealand Horse of the Year, now owned by champion driver Dexter Dunn, had 32 wins in Australasia, including 11 Group Ones, before securing 18 victories in North America. And he’s not alone, with Crocket’s Cullen (Christian Cullen – Let It Be) recently doing the same…