By Michael Guerin The Alexandra Park meeting postponed on Thursday because of shocking weather in Auckland will move to Saturday, but with one race less. The meeting is a crucial lead-up to next Friday’s five Group-1 race meeting at the same venue, with Thursday’s canned meeting scheduled to hold both the Oaks and Derby Preludes. But Cyclone Tam has brought heavy rainfall and strong winds and left thousands of homes in the upper North Island without power. Ferries have also been cancelled and many domestic flights in and out of…
Category: Harness
HRNZ roadshows on “utilisation” changes
HRNZ is hitting the road in late April-early May. It will host roadshows from Invercargill to Auckland to explain the latest initiatives by the Utilisation Reference Group (URG) that have been endorsed by the HRNZ Board. Among the topics that will be addressed are : The Conduct of Race MeetingsHandicapping and Programming of RacesThe Rating SystemScratchingsOperating of the National BureauAmendments to Claiming Races. The schedule for the Roadshows is : Invercargill, 1 pm, Monday April 28 – RacecourseOamaru, 2pm, Tuesday April 29 – Racecourse, after the trialsTimaru, 11am, Wednesday 30…
Aussie set to make waves at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin One of the first stars of the new season pacing crop in Australia will make a surprise trip to Auckland next week. Bathurst Tiara-winning filly Ripples will come to Alexandra Park for a heat of the Young Guns Delightful Lady series next Friday and hopefully the $70,000 final on May 2. It will also mark a rare appearance in New Zealand for a horse trained by Victorian superstar Emma Stewart, who has had incredible success on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard but while the mega stable has threatened to…
Williams one to watch on Winton Cup day
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams will be doing everything he can to hold an early advantage with his best chances on Winton Cup Day. Williams will combine with a powerful line-up of drives, including key All Lay Carpet & Drapes Winton Cup runner Double Jeopardy and Seaside Rose, a major player in the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Final. Both will wear the number one saddlecloth and both will carry plenty of punter support. And if they are going to justify that faith, Williams knows making the best possible beginning will…
Oaks and Derby Prelude night at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Outstanding pacing filly Beside Me’s winning chances at Alexandra Park tonight have been given two mini boosts by the withdrawal of just one rival. The big Canterbury filly is the warm favourite for the Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks Prelude on a night when the three-year-olds take centre stage for a rare Thursday night meeting at The Park, the date change coming as there is no domestic racing on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. Tonight’s meeting sees Marketplace red hot to win the prelude to next Friday’s…
Jonny Cox with key chances on Winton’s big day
By Jonny Turner It’s not just the advantage of horsepower Jonny Cox hopes to have on his side when he pulls on the powerful Purdon colours at Winton on Thursday. Cox will head to his hometown’s bumper cup meeting amid a whirlwind month in which he’s already tasted Group race success. The reinsman will link up with the Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Secret Wish, who was downed by stablemate Alecto, whom Cox drove to win the recent Group 3 Leonard Memorial at Addington. While Secret Wish was firmly in Cox’s…
Mark Chittick the latest of the “cross coders”
By Michael Guerin One of New Zealand’s most famous sets of racing colours could be coming to a harness racing track near you next season. But first Waikato Stud owner Mark Chittick will have to get a bigger set made. (Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell) Chittick, the man who owns the giant thoroughbred breeding operation, has bought his first harness horse, outlaying $50,000 for a Tactical Landing filly out of Queen Bea, an unraced sister to Queen Elida. And he wants it wearing his famous colours, the same ones his…
Chase A Dream is Aussie-bound
By Michael Guerin Chase A Dream is not only back but Queensland-bound. The big improver of the last month, winning the Flying Mile at Cambridge before chasing Leap To Fame home in the Race By Betcha, has accepted an invitation to the Rising Sun at Albion Park in July 5. Co-trainer Mark Purdon hopes that four-year-old can win the A$300,000 Rising Sun to springboard himself into the A$1million Inter Dominion Final two weeks later without needing to contest any of the Inter Dom heats. If Chase A Dream, or any…
Lifestyle change prompts property sale
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk A eight hectare property in harness racing heartland is currently on the market. Located in Canterbury, between Rolleston and West Melton, the property featuring an oval training track will go to auction in early May. For “coming up four years” it’s been home for dual code trainer Jackie Burrows and her family. “It’s a niche property .. but it has so much potential,” she says. The property, on Newtons Road, includes a four bedroom house, two cottages, bar room with guest…
Plan B in case Motukarara meeting is rained off
A back-up plan has been agreed to if bad weather means Monday’s meeting on the grass at Motukarara cannot be held. If the track is deemed unsuitable then the meeting will move to Addington. The forecast for Easter in Canterbury is for showers on Thursday and intermittent rain continuing through to Sunday. “Our intention is to race at Motukarara and we are committed to that but we have come up with a contingency plan to ensure the meeting goes ahead even if the Mot is deemed unsuitable,” says Harness Racing…