By Michael Guerin Harness racing’s big boys and girls return for a massive Friday night that kind of feels like it has snuck up on us. With eyeballs having been divided between grass track racing, mares Group 1 at Addington and a huge last six weeks in Australia harness which culminates in Saturday’s Miracle Mile, New Zealand’s biggest names have been on stand by. And when we think of the likes of Republican Party, Merlin, Akuta and their mates the mind could be excused for jumping forward to their next…
Category: Meeting Previews
Rhaegal looking to keep winning form going at Manawatu
By Jordyn Bublitz Rhaegal will look to continue his good form when he lines up in the Pete’s Plumbing Mobile Pace at Palmerston North today. The son of Fear The Dragon is prepared by local trainer John Gommans and comes into the 2000m event (6.36pm) following a strong last start performance at Manawatu on February 26. The gelding was able to show his early speed in that race, pressing forward to find the lead before controlling proceedings from the front. Once in charge he dictated the tempo and proved…
Matt Purvis with strong hand at Westport
By Mike Love The Matt Purvis stable looks to be one to watch at Westport today, with a number of very live chances. Two of his runners go around in Race 1, the Stu Bailey Memorial (Sponsored By Mark Jones) HCP Trot over 2600m. Drawn one is Learning To Fly, to be driven by Robbie Close. Having only her third career start today, she is backing up from her strong fresh up run for second at Addington back on February 19. Purvis is confident of the filly’s ability, but…
Dalgetys cautious about chances at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Cran Dalgety has his stable big guns in Auckland this week but he isn’t predicting them to be firing as the Northern Lights Autumn Carnival gets underway at Alexandra Park tonight. And that could act as a warning for punters eyeing plenty of other big-name horses at this meeting which is somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the weeks ahead. Dalgety and wife Chrissie train one of the most powerful teams in New Zealand harness racing, including Horse of the Year Republican Party, who is in Auckland…
Early rush key to Pinseeker’s chances at Menangle
By Adam Hamilton Pinseeker’s hopes of making one of the strongest Miracle Mile fields for 20 years could rest on how the first 150 metres plays out at Menangle on Saturday night. If Jonny Cox can get across from gate two to head-off pole-marker The Janitor and find the pegs, it will be a huge boost to Pinseeker’s prospects. Only a top two finish in a star-studded $75,000 Bioworma Sprint (11.10pm) will guarantee Pinseeker a spot in the elite eight-horse Miracle Mile a week later. He still has a chance…
Carolan Questro looms as big chance at Cambridge tonight
By Jordyn Bublitz Strong lead-up form and an ideal draw has trainer Rod MacKenzie confident about Carolan Questro’s chances at Cambridge tonight. The five-year-old mare will line up in Race 4, the Drax Project At Night Of Champions Junior Drivers Mobile Pace (2200 metres). Having drawn the ace, MacKenzie says Carolan Questro will be heading for the front. “She’s got tons of early speed and she’ll lead early,” he says. The daughter of A Rocknroll Dance has been carefully managed throughout her career, and MacKenzie is eager to see her…
Show Stopper looks the goods at Oamaru today
By Jonny Turner Cran Dalgety hopes Show Stopper has found the perfect spot in Wednesday’s Southern Oaks heat at Oamaru. The three-year-old heads south with stablemate The Merc after placing in all three of her starts this time in. Show Stopper is set to start favourite from barrier 2 in Oamaru’s opening heat of the series (5.58pm) and Dalgety is hopeful that draw is one of several key factors in his horse’s favour. “She has been racing great, she’s just been running into one better on the day lately.” “The…
John Stewart Gray’s best hope at Rangiora
By Mike Love West Melton trainer Joseph Gray is set for a busy afternoon at Rangiora today, with three runners across the card. Gray’s best hope comes in Race Six, the Enjoy and Support Kidz Carts Racing At Rangiora Today Pace over 2600 metres (3:04pm), where junior driver Alana Cameron will take the drive on the Stay Hungry four-year-old gelding John Stewart ($2.80FF). “He’s a nice horse. He’s come on well from his last race where they went a New Zealand record on the grass,” Gray said. Having won three…
Ferguson with key chances in Group 3s at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Craig Ferguson knows the first few metres of the Group 3 events on Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup Day could be as crucial as the last. Ferguson links up with two key chances in Validation in the Caduceus Club Of Southland Alabar Fillies Classic and Wag Star in the Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup. Validation is the only filly in her field of youngsters to have been to the races ahead of Sunday’s Group 3. The Ross Houghton trained two-year-old led early from barrier 1 in her…
Hackett with strong chances at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin Outstanding young driver Crystal Hackett could start the next phase of her career on a high at Alexandra Park tonight. The Group 1-winning driver has moved employers after nearly five years working for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan during which time she drove 168 winners in New Zealand and has been the leading junior driver in the North Island three times before finishing second on that table to Harrison Orange last year. She also drove Mach Shard to win two Group 1 races and has become a…