Author: NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  The Williamsons rolled into Cromwell over the weekend and the results were rather familiar. Brad Williamson’s winning double yesterday added to the incredible success his family have enjoyed at the Central Otago venue which is something of a home away from home for them. Brad kicked Sunday’s meeting off in style with Isobel running to an impressive debut victory in Race 1, the Central Otago Motor Group Trot.  The three-year-old trialled impressively ahead of her first start and she produced a faultless trotting display under the pressure…

By Adam Hamilton  Kiwis are likely to see champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame in the flesh earlier than expected. The six-year-old heads to a title defence in the $1m Miracle Mile at his next run on Saturday week, then the focus switches to the $1m Race by Betcha at Cambridge on April 4. But owner Kevin Seymour said it was “most likely” Leap To Fame would have a lead-up run at Cambridge in the $60,000 Group 2 Waikato Flying Mile on March 28. “Grant will start locking down plans…

By Mike Love  Dance Till Dawn is enjoying a purple patch of form right. Yesterday the six-year-old mare made it two wins in a row for driver John Dunn and trainers Jenna and Robert Dunn by impressively taking out the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup.  “They did run along a majority of the way. I didn’t have to cover any extra ground which was lucky,” said John Dunn. Beginning well from their 10 metre handicap, Dance Till Dawn settled four back the markers and stayed there for the majority of the…

By Jonny Turner  Just as her arch nemesis has disappeared, Practical Magic must contend with another smart trotter. The in-form mare heads to the second day of Cromwell’s big weekend of harness racing seeking a deserved win after four second placings. The last three of those have come at the hands of the rejuvenated Hidden Talent, who has proven to be unstoppable over the past month. While trainer Phil Williamson rates Practical Magic ($4.40) a strong hope of breaking through in Race 9, the Anderson Park Motel Handicap Trot (4.28pm)…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Doug Gale has two opinions on his best of the day for Manawatu’s new twilight Sunday meeting. The Bulls trainer has four runners engaged – Call Security (R1), Stealers Wheel (R4), Whitebait Delight (R6) and Miki’s Moment (R7). “I’d say of my chances on ability it’s Stealers Wheel but from the draw it’s Call Security – a toss up between the two.” Appropriately in the first race Michael Hay will steer Call Security, who has drawn one, in the Michael Hay Stables Mobile…

By Adam Hamilton  Dexter Dunn remains the only Kiwi connection still in contention to win the inaugural Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship (UDC) after some unexpected twists on night one at Albion Park. The first blow to the Kiwi hopes came before the first of the 20 heats in the series was run when Carter Dalgety’s best drive, Waikaka Magic, was scratched from race four on opening night. It was $1.30 favourite and a win Dalgety needed to have any real hope of being a key player. But it was another…

By Mike Love  Wish Me Luck will be looking to continue the success of Hayden and Amanda Cullen’s brilliant start to their training partnership at Ashburton today.  The five-year-old Vincent gelding is looking to go back to back in the Gallagher Insurance Ashburton Cup over 3200m after winning the Amberley cup on Waitangi day.  “He’s come through Rangiora really well. He seems bright and he’s trained on great,” said Amanda Cullen.  It will be Wish Me Luck’s first attempt at the extreme distance of 3200m but that does not concern…

HRNZ has approved a requested alteration to the Bob Rochford Memorial Seddon District Trotters Series. Originally it was decided that trotters would only qualify for the $30,000 Final at Addington if they had competed in four of the 10 qualifying races. The heats started at Kaikoura last November and have continued on through the top half of the South Island over the summer. There are just two heats left, at Westport and Reefton on March 7 and 9. Now HRNZ has agreed to a change to the qualifying criteria. Now,…