Category: Meeting Previews

Invitational Drivers race for Ashburton

NZHarnessNews

Ashburton will take on an international feel at its November meeting. The “Emerging Talent” meeting to be held on the Thursday of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup week (November 13) will feature a $20,000 Drivers Invitational race. It will be for 4YO Mares (R35-44) over 1700 metres. It will have a maximum field of 12 (and one ballot). Already dual New Zealand Cup-winning driver Cam Hart has signalled he’ll be there. It comes just two days after the New Zealand Cup where he is aiming for a record-equalling third consecutive…

Akuta moves up in latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings

NZHarnessNews

After his second win in Sunday’s  Hannon Memorial, Akuta has climbed up three places in the latest IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup/ Renwick Farms Dominion Trot rankings. Both races, limited to 15 starters, will held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained Akuta, who also won the 2022 Hannon, was 10th in the rankings before the weekend. He is now seventh. It was his second win this campaign after a long lay-off with a tendon injury. Dalton Shard and Renegade who finished second and fourth in the Group…

Cam Hart in form ahead of New Zealand Cup

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  As he vies for a record-equaling third IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup win with Swayzee, Cameron Hart is a man in form right now. The 26-year-old, who steered Swayzee to back to back wins in this country’s biggest race in 2023 and 2024, had a personal best six wins at Menangle in Sydney on Saturday night. “It’s pretty crazy,” he said after his record haul. “It’s a big thrill to get six and for three different trainers who have all been big supporters…

Merlin opens $2.35 favourite in Friday’s Spring Cup at Alexandra Park

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The “frenemies” will be at it again in the IRT Spring Cup at Alexandra Park on Friday night but this time they will have a lot of stablemates for company. Defending champion Sooner The Bettor will have found memories of last season’s Spring Cup as he beat stablemate and constant travelling companion Merlin. This does not happen often. Usually Merlin is too fast for his perfectly-mannered mate, although Menangle is the one place Sooner The Bettor also seems to close the gap. They are back at it…

Go Jimmy Cassidy qualifies and Jimmy’s rapt

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   The legendary Jimmy Cassidy never does things by halves. So when the dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey decided to get involved in his first standardbred he went all in. “I’ve always wanted one so decided to give it a crack,” Cassidy said from Sydney. Not only did he put his money where his mouth was but agreed to a suggestion by his “great mate” Graeme Rogerson that the colt be called “Go Jimmy Cassidy”. The two-year-old qualified at Cambridge Raceway last week. The…

Week 3 and Blue September’s taking it up a notch

NZHarnessNews

Harness Racing New Zealand’s 2025 Blue September campaign is gearing up for its busiest week so far. The first Big Blue Drive (BBD) will take place all over the country from Thursday through to Sunday. It is all about encouraging people to donate to the cause and raise as much money as possible for prostate cancer research. Thursday will see dual meetings at Winton and Cambridge, with the latter hosting “Blokes’ Night”. Tickets are $70 and include food from the Burger Bistro menu, a drink on arrival and a variety…

Dominion contenders trialling across the Tasman tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  A key pointer to the Group 1 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot will play out in country Victoria tonight. Pre-post favourite and TAB Trot winner Arcee Phoenix will clash with Brisbane Inter Dominion heat winner and finalist Parisian Artiste in a trial. It will be the second time in the space of six days the pair have clashed at the trials. Parisian Artiste led throughout from a standing-start to beat a softly driven Arcee Phoenix at Melton last Tuesday. And they may even clash again at Menangle when…

Akuta wins second Hannon Memorial in style

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  There was one key difference when Akuta returned to Oamaru to deliver his second crushing win in the Group 3 Placemakers Hannon Memorial title. The comeback pacer left his rivals without an excuse when he sat parked and still proved far too strong in the New Zealand Cup lead-up for trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon.  The win was something of a carbon copy of Akuta’s brilliant win in the 2022 Hannon Memorial. Three years ago, Mark Purdon was just as content to sit parked rather than pressed…

Orange upbeat on his chances in the Hannon Memorial

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Take two showed Blair Orange everything he needed to see ahead of the Group 3 Placemakers Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday. After taking out last year’s edition of the Oamaru feature, the leading reinsman is back in 2025, renewing his association with star pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming. Don’t Stop Dreaming starts his march towards the New Zealand Cup on Sunday, having trialled twice for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen. The first of those was a quiet outing, but the second gave Orange the feel he wanted.…

Speed machine takes out Metro Trot Heat at Alexandra Park

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin For the majority of racehorses their problem is not having enough speed. Not Loteria. Her problem is controlling all the speed she has. The rapid going four-year-old recorded her third career win when overcoming an unruly starting position in a Metro Trot heat at Alexandra Park on Friday night and did it in style. She smashed favourite Pretty In Pink after looping the field in the middle stages and racing to a two-and-three-quarter length win looking to have a few gears still left. Loteria is trained by…