Category: Harness

Draws not favouring Queen Elida and Minstrel in ID finals

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  A shock third round heat defeat and tricky barrier draw has seen Kiwi-owned mare Queen Elida’s odds drift sharply for the Inter Dominion trotting final. The Brent Lilley-trained mare, who has run third in the past two finals, was $3 for the final before last night, but is out to $6.50. She will start from barrier five and despite having loads of early speed, her two main dangers – The Locomotive (gate four, $1.55) and Keayang Chucky (three, $5) – hve drawn inside her for the 2300m…

Ferguson looks to extend winning run at Wingatui today

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Craig Ferguson may have to clear a little space in his trophy cabinet before Sunday’s Wingatui trots. The reinsman has been driving in the best form of his career recently and has collected three Group 1 trophies recently including the Garrards New Zealand Derby on Friday night with We Walk By Faith. While the conditions on the Wingatui grass may be a world away from the electric atmosphere of elite races at Addington, Ferguson’s winning hopes still look good. The reinsman combines with two big winning threats…

Selections | Wingatui

NZHarnessNews

Selections for Wingatui today      Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Race Jonny TurnerRacing Journalist  Race 112.58pm  6 Tarragindi1 Almighty4 Niamh8 Birch       Race 21.24pm 1 Donald Trot7 Miki’s Beauty4 Cold Pursuit10 Janaka’s Delight  Race 32.00pm 5 It’s A Pleasure4 Jay R Tolkien8 Prosperity1 Crackasky Race 42.38pm 6 Airwaves3 Haley Robyn7 Paradise Valley1 Avenger  Race 53.05pm 6 Blithe12 Our Superfund4 Top Pocket Chance14 Markthewarrior  Race 63.39pm 9 Forever Arden6 Havarti Arden2 Lily’s A Star1 Asta     Race 74.15pm 3 Nutcracker12 South Seas Rock8 Still Rockin4 Hacksaw Ridge   Race…

Keayang Zahara wins “Grand Final” in style

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Jason Lee thought he had the Garrards NZ Trotting Derby won when he saw the look on his mother’s face the day before the race. “When Mum (Marg Lee) first saw her (Keayang Zahara) when she got back across, she said she looked like a different filly,” Lee said. “Antti (Ruokonen, travelling foreman) said the thing and then when you throw-in hearing back from the team at stables that Mark (Purdon) thought she worked really well in her last hit out and it can’t help but give…

Key changes to today’s Geraldine Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Scratchings have massively changed the complexion of today’s Placemakers Timaru/Twizel/Oamaru Geraldine Cup on the grass at Orari. First it was the in-form Wild Willow who was taken out, followed by $2.10 favourite Mo’unga this morning. It’s believed he has an abscess issue.  That leaves the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained Hey Bartender the top pick, with latest markets having him at $2.60.  Ashburton trainers Brent and Tim White line up two runners in the event, Got You Covered and American Me. The latter was a contender in the…

Rakero Rocket upsets in epic Group 1 win

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  Rakero Rocket has produced a huge upset at Addington with victory in tonight’s first ever Group 1 The Christian Cullen at Addington Raceway.  It was an emotional win for trainer Tom Bamford who was in shock post race. “I’m shaking, I don’t know what is going on.” Rakero Rocket charged out from the mobile to head hot favourite Don’t Stop Dreaming. Meanwhile arch rival Merlin was taken to the rear of the field from his wide draw.  Don’t Stop Dreaming and driver Blair…

Keayang Zahara dominates the Derby at Addington

NZHarnessNews

As everyone expected, the trotting superstar that is Keayang Zahara has waltzed away with the Garrards New Zealand Trotting Derby at Addington tonight. The Victorian three-year-old, backed into $1.05, dispatched the field with ease, winning by nine lengths and extending her unbeaten run to 14 from 14. “Absolute freak” was the term used by commentator Matt Cross while Trackside presenter Greg O’Connor said she was “crazy good”. No-one would argue with either description.  Driver Jason Lee was patient off the gate and settled two and then three back the running line…

Christian Cullen among the stars on big Friday night

NZHarnessNews

It’s Friday night and there is no shortage of racing action on at Addington and Auckland. Alexandra Park will host its first 12-race card on a Friday night since April 2017 while Addington’s Derby race night will feature three Group 1s – the Garrards Pacing and Trotting Derbies and the brand new The Christian Cullen.  Just weeks after his 30th birthday, the champion pacer himself will make a guest appearance. The million dollar earner will lead out the field for the race named after him, the $200,000 The Christian Cullen…

Smiths grab third win in quick succession

NZHarnessNews

The past week has been good to Mid Canterbury trainers Lynn and Justin Smith. On Saturday the Rakaia-based combo had a double with Beyond The Horizon and Lookslikeatrixter at Motukarara to bring up their 100th training success together and then yesterday they added to their total when Glance broke maidens with a four length win at Addington. “She always worked like she’d win a race but she hasn’t raced like that on race day until today,” Justin Smith told Harness Unhinged’s Nigel Armstrong post race. It was her 12th start…

Can Hill-May combo break their Derby drought?

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The fact trainer Brendon Hill has never won a Derby might be a surprise. But the fact his good mate Ricky May have never won one is flat out remarkable. The pair head to Addington on Friday to try and remedy that with Renegade in the $300,000 Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby, a great race won by great horses. It may not actually contain many truly great horses this year with this three-year-old crop struggling to produce a standout star who has open class hero of the…