By Jonny Turner Tairlaw Toll is a horse in the zone and it showed when he ran to victory in the Gore Summer Cup on Sunday. The happy horse made for a happy trainer as Carl Hanna notched win number three on his official training record as the seven-year-old ran to victory for driver Matthew Williamson. Hanna first got to know Tairlaw Toll when working for Northern Southland stud Macca Lodge. After heading back to work in the dairy farming sector, he subsequently leased the horse and campaigned him in…
Author: NZHarnessNews
Best Trio wraps good week for Taylor
By Jonny Turner It wasn’t just Best Trio that had a new experience this week with his win at Rangiora on Saturday. The Dean Taylor trained pacer capped consistent form when running to victory in race 7 for driver John Morrison. Best Trio didn’t start his career as a complete product, but he’s starting to develop into one for his breeder-owners Grahame and Bev Scurr. “He is a lovely wee horse and he is getting better all the time.” Taylor said. “He went some terrific trials early on, but then…
Amore Vita impresses in NSW Oaks heats
One star female leaves Nathan Purdon’s barn and another keeps stepping-up. There is no replacing a champion like Amazing Dream, but Purdon still has two outstanding girls in Spellbound and Amore Vita. Both will be chasing Group 1 glory at Menangle next Saturday night. Spellbound goes to the $200,000 Group 1 Ladyship Mile and a clash with Stylish Memphis. Amore Vita looks as big a chance as any in the $200,000 Group 1 NSW Oaks after the heats were run last night. A few months ago Purdon touted the former…
Krug fifth in Chariots of Fire
By Adam Hamilton That was a Chariots Of Fire we won’t forget in a long time. Menangle is often criticised for boring, one-dimensional racing, but last night’s $250,000 Group 1 Chariots Of Fire was anything but. And it started from the first few strides. Emerging Victorian Bettor Call Me shocked a few when driver Sofia Arvidsson blasted him off the gate in a quest to get across Kiwi star Krug. Bettor Call Me eventually got there, but it took most of the first quarter when they ran in a head-spinning…
McIlwrick ready to rock Gore
By Jonny Turner Rory McIlwrick has the right book of drives to make an impact as harness racing returns to Gore on Sunday. McIlwrick combines with a strong line up of horses at the Gore Summer Cup meeting and may have to wait until the last of 11 races for the best of them. Peroni returned to racing after a freshen up with a powerful win at Ascot Park last week and looks a huge chance of going back-to-back in race 11. “Peroni certainly did a good job the other…
Selections | Gore – Today
Racing journalist Jonny Turner’s selections for the Gore meeting today – Feb 20. Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist Race 112.00pm 1 The Jafa Exoress4 Viburnum5 Mahindi9 Tigers Watching Race 212.25pm 6 Streaming Live3 In The Groove10 Bacardi Pride1 The Power Broker Race 312.55pm 3 One Hopeful Dream11 Livy Desma2 Seventh Heaven9 Princess Popsicle Race 41.26pm 2 Donald Trot10 The Mighty Mondo1 Art Profile6 Ngaroma Race 51.51pm 6 Fast Whispering2 Miss Bamboocha5 Foreigner13 Danangus Fella Race 62.16pm 6 Lou’s Deal4 Arl Maguire1…
Winning streaks continue for Stormont and Herlihy
By Michael Guerin James Stormont’s stellar start to the new season continued at Alexandra Park on Friday but it is the lack of reinforcements he is worried about. Stormont made it four winners from just 11 starters in 2022 when Molly Belle grabbed American Muscle on the line in the opening race of the night to record her second career win. The victory capped a huge month for one of the most under-rated families in New Zealand harness racing as Molly Belle’s granddam Howz Lucky just keeps producing winners through…
One Change dominant at Addington
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Patience paid dividends for the connections of One Change at Addington Raceway on Friday night. The Bettor’s Delight gelding had been knocking on the door of victory since his raceday return earlier this year and he finally delivered with a dominant performance in The Box Seat Mobile Pace (1980m). Previously trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, One Change had won 16 races on both sides of the Tasman prior to Friday, including three at Group One level. He joined Amber Hoffman’s Waikouaiti barn…
Herbert & Himself a likely duo at Rangiora today
By Jonny Turner Jo Herbert will combine with the boys when she takes on some of the South Island’s leading reinswomen in Saturday’s Team Teal Challenge Pace at Rangiora. Herbert drives the slightly ironically named Himself in the all-female drivers affair. The Bob Butt trained four-year-old has been rated the $3 early favourite for the standing start event following an impressive last start win at Nelson last month. Herbert goes into the race confident she’s on the right horse. “He looks like quite a nice horse and I think Bob…
Elusive Chick – a once in a lifetime horse
Twelve years ago today Derek and Adele Jones bought Elusive Chick at the yearling sales in Christchurch for $3000. Little did they know that day would change their lives. The horse would go on to win over $400,000, then produce another good earner in Lulu Le Mans ($112,724). And now a second progeny sold at this week’s NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales for $210,000. “It’s been a massive buzz, it’s hard to explain,” said Derek Jones after his yearling ended up being one of the top lots of the entire sale.…