By Jordyn Bublitz For Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott, it wasn’t the stature or the stakes of The Moonstone’s Silk Road victory on Thursday night at Cambridge Raceway that mattered, it was the sense of relief and accomplishment in finally getting the mare to return to a glimpse of her former self. Many may remember The Moonstone for her standout performances as an early two-year-old, when she impressed spectators on debut at Alexandra Park with a remarkable victory, despite missing away from the mobile and giving herself a considerable handicap in the…
Category: Harness
Dragonstone Leads Donnelly’s Metro Final Team
By Michael Guerin The headache horse of Arna Donnelly’s stable has a few problems of her own at Alexandra Park tonight. But that doesn’t mean Dragonstone can’t win her $35,000 TAB Racing Club Metro Final and give her trainer a shot at the feature race double. The Metro series, made up of heats then finals for nearly double the stake, have been a huge help to maintaining field size and interest during harness racing’s winter months and tonight’s two fit the bill: even and interesting. Donnelly has last Friday’s impressive…
Cameron’s Double Threat Among Winter Rewards Highlights
by Michael Guerin Kyle Cameron has two chances in the same $25,000 Winter Rewards Trot at Addington tonight and one may help, or hinder, the other. Cameron takes three of his 20-strong team to the meeting which hosts five $25,000 Winter Rewards races, decent bonuses for those horses who keep the industry ticking over while the stars are resting. While Cameron suggests Gimmesomelovin (R3, No.4) can get some money is his 2600m mobile if the pace is on throughout, it is the main Winter Rewards Trot that sees him with…
Coppins confident with strong Cambridge book
Budding junior driver Kate Coppins heads to Cambridge Raceway tonight with a strong book of four drives, and plenty of reasons to be optimistic. She kicks off her night in Race 1, the Christmas At The Raceway Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot (5:41p.m.) aboard President Flynntin. The pair have been in a rich vein of form lately, booking a cheque in all their last four starts. This season has been the geldings most successful yet, amassing two wins and a further seven placings, all of which with Coppins in the…
Six to watch: Trial form and pedigree point to strong week ahead
These 6 horses have trialled pleasingly in recent weeks and this week they head back to the racetrack. American Falcon (2c American Ideal – Tania Tandias) Trainer: Matthew White Only qualified late June at ‘The Park’ when he led throughout in a 4 horse heat and looked to have plenty still to give running a 2:04MR, 800m in 57.9, 400m in 28.3.Backed that up with an unlucky debut run (11/7/25) when 3rd to Craftsman whom he had beaten in the earlier trial. 2nd up at Auckland this Friday in Race 2…
Tayla Duley has first driving success
by Mike Love Tayla Duley recorded her first driving success yesterday at Addington when Denver took out the Seahorse Supplements Proudly NZ Owned mobile trot over 1980m. Not only was it Duley’s first driving success, but the win was also her first success as an owner, giving the win even more significance. “It’s good, I’m wrapt. The first horse I’ve owned as well. My mates, the owners, my partner and grandparents are all there. So it’s pretty special,” said Duley in a post race interview with Nigel Armstrong. Duley did…
Records, rivalries, and Kiwi success on Inter Dominion night
by Adam Hamilton Leap To Fame targets New Zealand Cup after Inter Dominion win The focus turns to the New Zealand Cup after champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame snared his second Inter Dominion title at Albion Park last night. In front of a packed and passionate local crowd, local hero Leap To Fame posted his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $A540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with…
McKay confident Birdy can trot her way to maiden victory
by Mike Love Russley trainer Laura McKay will be hoping her charge Birdy ($1.85FF) brings their manners in race one the Seahorse Supplements Trot over 2000m at Addington today with driver Blair Orange. The four year old Royal Aspirations mare will be having start three in her career, and trainer McKay says she has learnt a lot with each outing to date. “She’s come through that last run really well. She seems pretty bright,” said McKay. “She just has to trot the whole way.” After a faultless debut running second being…
Crackerjack steps up at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin Dylan Ferguson admits Crackerjack is going to need to improve to warrant racing our best three-year-old trotters again this season. The good thing is Ferguson thinks that improvement is almost certain. The three-year-old recorded the third win of his career with perfect manners in his Classique Landscapers Metro Trotters Heat at Alexandra Park on Friday night, skying away to an easy win with Dylan’s father Peter in the sulky. Being a Metro Trot heat the next target for Crackerjack is an easy decision, the $35,000 final next…
One Mhor For Heather delivers special win at Addington
by Michael Guerin One Mhor For Heather is doing exactly what was named to do. And that is win races so her owners could remember and celebrate in the name of the late harness racing owner Heather Williams. Heather, with her husband Lex, raced some wonderful horses before Heather sadly passed in November 2020. One of thosd good horses they owned together was One Over Da Moon, the Jewels winner of his juvenile year, who has since stood at stud and sired some smart trotters. Enter the fray Heather’s friends…