By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It’s not the last throw at the stumps but today’s meeting at Banks Peninsula looms as a vital one for the Junior Drivers’ Premiership. On the grass at Motukarara all three of the premiership contenders will be in action with front runner Carter Dalgety going into the meeting with 65 wins, two ahead of Sam Thornley and Wilson House just one away on 62. With two days of the season left, all three have winning chances today, with Thornley the busiest of the…
Category: Harness
Pinseeker’s Gore Cup win dedicated to Dick Prendergast
By Jonny Turner Personal triumph was the last thing on Jonny Cox’s mind as Pinseeker delivered a powerful victory in the Mataura Licensing Trust Gore Cup yesterday. Cox lowered his head before crossing the line with his brilliant pacer, in a nod to his partner Kimberly Butt’s grandfather, the former master trotting trainer Dick Prendergast. Prendergast was in hospital and surrounded by his family with the Gore Cup playing in the background as the feature event was run. Prendergast would pass away just a matter of minutes later, making Cox’s…
Sam Ottley back at Westport for more success
By Mike Love Piccadilly Pete ($1.75FF) will be looking to double down on success at Westport today after winning the Frank Dooley Memorial Westport Cup on day one. After a dominant performance on the first day the three-year-old Sweet Lou gelding has come through his run well and trainer Matt Purvis is expecting another strong performance today. “Very happy with him. He showed first up at Rangiora that he would measure up. I was a little bit worried the way the track was playing that he might not handle it,…
Merlin $2.50 favourite for Tuesday’s Auckland Cup
By Michael Guerin One of the big guns of New Zealand pacing could be left sweating on a scratching to boost his chances in the last Group 1 of the year on Tuesday night. Don’t Stop Dreaming can cap a rollercoaster year in the $250,000 Trillian Trust Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park, returned to its former New Year’s Eve date. As has been the case all season Don’t Stop Dreaming and arch rival Merlin will dominate betting on the Cup, with Republican Party and Better Eclipse their greatest dangers, the…
Dexter Dunn named 2024 Driver of the Year in USA
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Dexter Dunn is back. The 35-year-old has secured his fifth USA Driver of the Year award in the past six years, after a stellar 2024. Dunn, who won 10 consecutive New Zealand driving premierships before heading to the USA in 2018, has won this year’s award after having 304 wins in North America in 2024. He had won more than $15m in stakes before, but his total this year ($16.645m) was his best ever, and $2m more than the second highest earner Yannick…
Indicative 2YO Racing programme released
A draft schedule for the two-year-old season for the first half of 2025 has been released. It is for January to July and at this stage is indicative only – the dates, stakes and race conditions are yet to be approved, and may be subject to change. To see the schedule click here
Swayzee dominant in record-breaking race day return
By Adam Hamilton Mighty stayer Swayzee made quite a statement at his first run since last month’s successful New Zealand Trotting Cup defence at Addington when he toyed with his rivals at Bathurst last night (Thursday). The gelding, who turns seven in a few days, obliterated the 2790m Bathurst track record on his way to a 17.4m win in a 1min54.9sec mile rate, taking a full second off Alta Orlando’s 2019 record. It was Swayzee’s first run since he defied a frantic racing and travel schedule to win his second…
Pinseeker big chance to take out today’s Gore Cup
By Jonny Turner A rather drastic change of scenery could be just what Pinseeker needs in today’s Mataura Licensing Trust Gore Cup. The talented Canterbury pacer ($2.80FF) has stayed in the south following his fifth in the Group 1 Invercargill Cup and he now has Gore’s very popular Christmas meeting on Friday in his sights. After competing at the highest level against some of New Zealand’s best pacers in his last two starts, the move to a workable handicap in a Country Cups race looks perfect for the pacer trained…
“Unreal” day at Westport creates history for Sam Ottley
By Mike Love A “lot of luck” helped Samantha Ottley to her own slice of harness racing history at Westport yesterday. She became the first female driver to rein 100 hundred winners in a single 12 month season when Masterly capped off a huge five win day at Patterson Park. Ottley only picked up the drive on Masterly when regular driver Bob Butt was unwell and unable to attend the meeting. “On the way over I was looking at the fields and saw my name down on this fella. So…
Selections | Westport
Selections for Westport today Head to www.tab.co.nz to place your bet! Westport Trottech Form Analyst Race 112.00pm 4 Waterloo Station2 Macho Man6 Call Dudley5 Lover Boy Race 212.25pm 9 Mary Rulz3 Red Wine Kisses11 Rule Again7 Yogi’s Colada Race 312.50pm 6 Ideal Conqueror3 Rakero Chase7 Interrorgator11 Rutherford Race 41.15pm 1 Brandi Snapp8 Franco Elvis13 She’s A Major Act9 Fear Gogh Race 51.40pm 3 Amalfi10 Fredastaire11 Sideshow Bruce5 Black Billie Gee Race 62.12pm 10 Denuto3 Rapid Response8 Style Council6 Michael Eyre Race 72.38pm 4 Premium…