Category: Meeting Previews

by Jonny Turner Brad Williamson’s winning double on Winter Rewards Day at Winton on Thursday brought delight to owners across New Zealand. The Oamaru trainer-driver produced Aint No Angel to win her second Winter Rewards Final, as well as scoring with Tabasco. After producing strong form in handy company recently, Aint No Angel saved her best for Southland’s biggest day of harness racing so far. The mare’s victory sits alongside the Winter Rewards Final she produced at Addington last year for Oturehua (Central Otago) breeder-owners Neville Armstrong, Rusty Nevill, and…

by Michael Guerin Even for the man with a plan Steve Telfer is stunned how quickly the New Zealand harness racing trainer’s premiership may have become a one-stable race. Telfer and his sister/training partner Amanda go into this weekend’s racing 16 wins clear in the premiership after being 16 behind Michael House just two months ago. It has been a staggering turnaround but one Telfer all but predicted, just not at this record speed. “We had a plan to race a good team through winter, when the stakes are almost…

by Michael Guerin Trainer Matty Williamson admits tonight’s Ricoh Canterbury Silk Road Final isn’t the perfect race for Princess Sadie. But he says that doesn’t mean the speedy four-year-old can’t still win it. Williamson trains and drives the five-win mare who has been one of the best of her age at two and three. She now faces taking on older horses at every start and often, like tonight, that also means stepping up in distance. “She is a real speed mare so the 2600m handicap probably isn’t ideal for her,”…

by Michael Guerin New Zealand’s best pacing mare is set to add her stamp of class to a new series of races being widely welcomed by trainers. HRNZ has announced the new Mare’s Spring Schedule to provide consistent racing for mares without having to take on the boys. The Canterbury-based series of six races starts at Addington on August 29 and runs through until Show Day at Addington on November 14, where it ends with the Bob McArdle Classic. It contains a $17,000 kick off race, one race of $25,000,…

by Adam Hamilton Oscar Bonavena has at least one more booming run in him. Co-trainer Nathan Purdon said the nine-year-old “looked a million bucks” as the $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final draws closer. “I’m pleasantly surprised how good he is, especially after the two mistakes and the chasing he had to do the other night,” he said. “I was just saying this morning how sound he is and how great he looks. “He might have looked a bit showy last Saturday, but he’s spot on now.” This time there is…

by Jonny TurnerSouthland’s biggest day of winter harness racing so far is looking Gray. Brett Gray lines up a powerful 12-horse team at Winton’s Winter Rewards Finals Day on Thursday. Beating her stablemates may prove to be the biggest challenge for Gray’s stable spearhead Haley Jaccka in the tightest assessed of three Winter Rewards Finals for pacers. The mare returned from a freshener with a bang, powering along the inner to win a hectic affair at Ascot Park ten days ago. And according to her trainer, she’s thrived since. “That…

by Jordyn Bublitz Loteria is set to make her Cambridge Raceway debut tonight in what looks to be a perfect stepping stone for the mare as she continues her return to racing. The four-year-old daughter of Majestic Son, trained out of Clevedon by Sammy Kilgour, is a well-travelled campaigner. She began her career across the Tasman as a two-year-old in Australia before joining Sammy and her partner Josh Dickie on their move back to New Zealand. After a strong start to her racing career on kiwi soil, Sammy made the call…

The Tab recently opened some long term markets around feature races in November so here’s an early look forward with harness analyst Greg O’Connor.  The three-year-old season has a predictable feel to it with last season’s 2yo’s of their respective season’s dominating the early bird markets. Marketplace is basically $1.40 in every major race he is likely to line up including the2nd running of the Velocity and of course the jewel in the 3yo year, the Garrards NZ Pacing Derby. His nearest rival and most likely to bridge the gap…