Category: Meeting Previews

Champion prevails on Cambridge’s big night

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  The legend of “Larry” went next level in tonight’s $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Leap To Fame, affectionately known as Larry, had to go three wide and then sit parked before overwhelming arch rival Don Hugo in a new track record. Trainer Grant Dixon wouldn’t let Don Hugo out of his sight and the pair went to war with 600 to go. Despite getting a tough trip Leap To Fame was too tough when it mattered. It was…

Arcee Phoenix’s “amazing” win in TAB Trot

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin The patience of one man and passion of another put Arcee Phoenix in the position to win the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on Friday night. The Victorian trotter led home an Australian-trained trifecta for the second year running in the slot race after working his way to the front in a bizarre opening 200m. Arcee Phoenix has never been a fast beginner but trainer-driver Chris Svanosio declared his hand pre-race saying he had to go forward on him and try to lead the 2200m mobile event,…

Arcee Phoenix wins $600,000 TAB Trot

NZHarnessNews

First out first home. That was the way Australian visitor Arcee Phoenix won tonight’s $600,000 TAB Trot on Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Arcee Phoenix was fourth in the race last year and tonight Chris Svanosio, known as Snooze to his mates, wasn’t mucking around at the start. He went to the lead as leading Kiwi Oscar Bonavena sensationally galloped out of contention. Not As Promised did the same. Arcee Phoenix then dictated the tempo, and never really looked like getting beaten.  “It’s great to come here and win,” said Svanosio.…

Marketplace’s mum and sister on the market

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  He’s harness racing’s hype horse. And now both Marketplace’s mum and sister are up for sale.  Gavelhouse Standardbred is currently selling Cullen Who, the dam of the sensational Marketplace, and also his weanling full sister. Cullen Who is Lot 14, the weanling is Lot 1.   Adding to Cullen Who’s value is the fact that she is in foal. Cullen Who won five races before starting her broodmare career where she’s had five progeny, all by Bettor’s Delight. Marketplace so far has been…

HRNZ’s protocol for Nominations, Driver Engagements and Scratchings

NZHarnessNews

With the new National Bureau starting on Monday, Harness Racing New Zealand would like to advise of a temporary arrangement regarding nominations,driver engagements and scratchings. The protocol will be in place for the next fortnight until a new National Bureau Hotline is established. In the interim, trainers are encouraged to continue using the online system for nominations and driver engagements.  “While we acknowledge that some users are experiencing issues with the mobile app, our IT team has confirmed that these issues are not present on the web-based system,” says HRNZ’s…

Big bro wins ahead of Merlin’s bid to go back-to-back in $1m The Race

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Big brother showed Merlin how it’s done just a day out from $1m The Race by betcha. In slightly quieter surrounds to Friday’s Night Of Champions at Cambridge, Durrant ran to career win number eight at Ascot Park on Thursday for trainer Ross Hope and driver Nathan Williamson in the Final Touch / Clean-Biz Mobile Pace. After facing trickier draws in his recent starts, Durrant made full use of barrier 4 when Williamson found him a perfect trip in the trail, turning around an unlucky last start…

Cambridge’s Night of Champions is here!

NZHarnessNews

Fridays don’t get much bigger than Cambridge’s Night of Champions. Tonight’s 10-race card will get underway at 5.08pm , with the two biggest races, the $600,000 TAB Trot at 7.49pm and the $1m The Race by betcha at 8.52pm. The night will have a strong trans-Tasman theme including The Locomotive versus Oscar Bonavena, and Leap To Fame and Don Hugo vs the likes of Merlin, Don’t Stop Dreaming and Republican Party.  Leap To Fame needs personal best performance in The Race by betcha  By Michael Guerin The hero of harness…

Sunnys Sister’s raceday return at Addington tonight

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin Who Sunnys Sister is at Addington tonight and who she is in a month time could be two vastly different things. Which is driver John Dunn’s way of warning you to be careful when the Group 1 winner returns in the opener, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Mobile Trot  tonight (5.21pm). While the Addington card plays the supporting role to the very serious stuff at Cambridge it does see the return of a high class trotter who could well be taking on some of those in tonight’s TAB…

BGP put $40,000 on Don Hugo

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin  The Boys Get Paid group are putting their punting syndicate money behind their shared slot horse in the $1million Race by Betcha. The BGP are co-owners of the slot which Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo will race in at Cambridge tomorrow night and they also have one of their famous punters’ clubs running at the meeting. They placed their first bet on their own horse on Wednesday night when having $40,000 to win on Don Hugo at the boosted price of $3, a BGP spokesman saying they…

Cambridge’s Night of Champions Liftout

NZHarnessNews

Cambridge’s Night of Champions is one of racing’s biggest, and it promises to be another epic trans-Tasman battle.  Friday’s 10-race card will be highlighted by the $1m Race by betcha and the $600,000 TAB Trot plus a support card that includes the Dorothy Cutts Invitational. To mark what will be a huge occasion we have produced a special Liftout with previews, tips, opinion pieces and more. To view the Liftout please click here