A funding boost has been announced for 230 races for May, June and July. For those three months races that are currently funded at $8,100 will be increased to $9,000. “The new rate will apply to races, right around the country,” says Harness Racing New Zealand Chair John Coulam, “and we are very pleased that it has come about.” Last year the TAB reduced funding to all three racing codes by a total of $15m. HRNZ was impacted to the tune of $4.4m. In response, it decided to use $2.1m of…
Category: Meeting Previews
Aussie News – March 27
By Adam Hamilton Part-owner Tony Barron (third from left) was trackside at Melton to see his star trotting mare Queen Elida add another Group 1 to her bounty on Saturday night. In a stirring contest, the Brent Lilley-trained five-year-old eventually wore down her main rival, the high-class Im Ready Jet, to win the $75,000 Group 1 Sumthingaboutmaori Trotters’ free-for-all for mares. It was Queen Elida’s 20th win from just 37 starts (with another 12 placings) and took her earnings to almost $420,000. A superb Chris Alford drive to get behind…
Long time between wins for Kevin McClintock
By Jonny Turner Kevin McClintock showed he hadn’t lost his winning touch when scoring his first driving success in more than 27 years at Oamaru yesterday. McClintock weaved a winning passage for Evidently who held off a late challenge from runner-up Foveaux Gambler to win race 1 on Waimate Cup day. The victory for trainer and good friend Peter Holmes was McClintock’s first since he won as a fully-fledged with Royal Honour at Marlborough in 1995. Now an amateur reinsman, McClintock was thrilled he could secure a victory for Holmes.…
Start key for Homebush Lad
by Jonny Turner What happens in the split seconds after the tapes fly could decide whether Homebush Lad adds the Waimate Cup to his outstanding grass track resume. The Greg and Nina Hope trained veteran starts from the back mark of 45m in the 3000m grass track feature at Oamaru. Clearly the kind of beginning Homebush Lad can make from his handicap will have a huge impact on his chances. Settling in front of key rivals, who also start from handicap marks, will be the key to whether Homebush Lad…
Three year olds impress at Addington
by Jonny TurnerThree-Year-Olds Cormac Leo and Coney Island Lou both called on their big motors to run to impressive wins at Addington on Friday night. Trainer-driver Craig Ferguson unleashed Cormac Leo who could not have been more impressive in his debut victory in race 3. Being caught wide early mattered little to the pacer who also shrugged off plenty of pressure inside the final 800m when scoring like a horse with a big future. Cormac Leo was sent south to Ferguson by owners Bruce Barnett and Ricki Herbert after former…
Green feeling good heading towards million dollar race
by Michael Guerin Friday was a good day for Ray Green and he is hoping a Friday a few weeks away is even better. Green’s stable star Copy That got the perfect confidence-boosting win in the $45,000 City Of Auckland Free-For-All at Alexandra Park, easily wresting the lead from Kango early and then controlling the race. He only sprinted up the straight in the hands of Blair Orange to hold out Kango with Smiffy’s Terror third as the leaders dominated, aided by Self Assured and Alta Wiseguy locking wheels at…
Cardigan Bay Stakes hat-trick for winning connections
by Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk The connections of Cold Chisel have certainly developed a winning formula when it comes to the Gr.2 Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m). Trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, driver Zachary Butcher, and owner Dean Shannon of Montana Park Pty Ltd, have combined to win the last three editions of the race. Montana DJ kicked off their golden run in 2021, followed by Merlin, who was victorious in the Gr.1 Northern Derby (2700m) on Friday night before Cold Chisel completed the hat-trick…
Bucther says Merlin could have won by more
by Michael Guerin Don’t be fooled by the small margin Merlin scaped home by in Friday night’s $135,000 Woodlands Derby. Because driver Zachary Butcher is adamant the quality colt could have won the classic by a lot more had he wanted. “That is just him, he doesn’t like running away from horses and just switches off,” said Butcher after his first win in the great race. “When we got the passing lane he put half a length on them but then he pulled up. It is not like he is…
Golden run continues for Millwood Nike
by Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Millwood Nike was able to keep her unbeaten streak intact at Alexandra Park on Friday night when taking out the Gr.1 Northern Oaks (2700m). While she was backed into $1.10 favouritism by punters, the daughter of Captaintreacherous didn’t get everything her own way. She was forced to work to get to the front before Dylan Ferguson wrestled the lead off the favourite with Wicked Wanda with two laps to go, however, driver Mark Purdon wasn’t content in the trail with Millwood Nike and quickly…
Hamilton barn hoping winning run continues
By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson are hoping they can continue their winning momentum into Alexandra Park tonight. The Hamilton trainers started the week off well when winning with Ahwel in the Barrett Homes – Montiicola Show Home Trot (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night. “It was good to get a win with him. He has been Mr Consistent, and he deserved one,” Ferguson said. They will head north to Auckland tonight where they will line-up a handful of runners, including Wicked Wanda and…