Category: Meeting Previews

Tour Party’s progress impresses Next Gen winner

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  It’s been more than six months since Josh Mantell last saw Tour Party. The change has been obvious. “He’s just so much bigger,” says Mantell.   Earlier this year Mantell was the winner of the Harness Racing New Zealand Next Gen “Win a Share in a Race Horse” competition. He entered the competition at the Motukarara races last December. His prize was a 3.5% share in Tour Party, a full brother to multiple Group 1 winner Republican Party. Bred by Price Bloodstock in…

Blair Orange to wear special silks ahead of WDC

NZHarnessNews

The Postman is about to become a billboard for the World Driving Championship (WDC) . New Zealand’s representative for this November’s championship Blair Orange will wear specially made WDC silks in all his races throughout October , starting at Addington on Wednesday. The white silks will not be the ones worn by Orange during the WDC – there he will wear the Silver Fern. Ten of the world’s best drivers will duel it out at Kaikoura, Cambridge, Winton and Addington between November 2-11. It’s the first time New Zealand has…

Merlin rated a $2.20 chance in Friday’s Holmes D G

NZHarnessNews

By Michael Guerin How much difference can 500m make? Well, maybe that question has two parts, the other being how much fitter will Merlin strip for the Holmes D G at Alexandra Park on Friday night after his first-up defeat to stablemate Sooner The Bettor. The pair clashed two weeks ago and Sooner The Bettor found the lead over 2200m in the Spring Cup and never looked like being headed while Merlin remarkably secured the one-one soon from his 20m back mark after the start but could manage only third.…

A big upset, babies and his new life – the Mighty Looee story

NZHarnessNews

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  When it comes to Mighty Looee’s highlights reel one race is streets ahead of any other. The Sweet Lou eight-year-old, owned by Robyn Hellaby and co-trained by partner Robert Dunn, has been retired from the race track after notching up 17 wins in a 104-start career from 2019 and is now being re-educated for his Life After Racing. And looking back there is a clear stand out. “It was that Country Cup championship at Addington,” says Hellaby, “what a race!” To relive it still…

Wavewatcher brings up 50 wins for Latimer

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Wavewatcher’s fourth win brought up milestone win number 50 or Oamaru trainer Eion Latimer at Phar Lap Raceway in Timaru yesterday. “It took me twelve months to get it! The voice was a bit sore,” said Latimer. The five-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding Wavewatcher and driver Olivia Thornley were able to secure the trail for the entire trip behind race favourite McKendrick before executing the passing lane to full effect, wearing down McKendrick to win by half a head at the line with a four-length margin back to Betterthanbabe…

Big finish to Blue September

NZHarnessNews

Blue September ambassadors have produced a strong finish to round out the 2025 campaign in style. Down south Nathan Williamson added four more wins to the cause at Gore yesterday while Jonny Cox (with two wins), Blair Orange and John Dunn all added to the tally in Timaru. Their success followed five wins at Addington on Friday night, thanks to Dunn (2), Orange, Williamson and Robbie Close. In total during the month the 11 ambassadors won 53 races, with Dunn leading the way with 12, one ahead of Orange. The…

Big targets ahead for To The Moon And Back

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  A host of feature races await To The Moon And Back following his outstanding victory at Gore on Sunday. The progressive trotter repaid the faith his team have had in him when dispatching his opposition despite sitting parked for driver Kerryn Tomlinson. To The Moon And Back was bred by Lex Williams who races the three-year-old with a group of enthusiastic owners. Trainer Brad Williamson and the ownership group can target a host of lucrative group races for three-year-old trotters, with To The Moon And Back’s manners…

Cullen team revving up at Timaru today

NZHarnessNews

By Mike Love  Rolleston trainers Amanda and Hayden Cullen will be looking to continue a successful weekend after We Walk By Faith’s victory at Addington on Friday night as they head to Phar Lap raceway in Timaru with four runners. “Both of the boys cleaned their dinner up last night – We Walk By Faith and Don’t Stop Dreaming. We had a quick look over them this morning before they went to the paddock and they’re both looking good,” said co-trainer Amanda Cullen. Focus now turns to the feature event…

Hunter keen to get involved in New Zealand Cup week

NZHarnessNews

By Adam Hamilton  Like so many Aussies, Glenn Hunter has watched New Zealand Cup Week and dreamed. In less than two months, his dream will become a reality. The 47-year-old, who has driven 244 winners and trained 45, will take his star trotting filly Gatesys Gem to Addington for the Majestic Horse Floats $500,000 Ascent on Show Day, November 14.  “I’ve never been, but of course I’ve watched and loved it like everyone else,” he said. Gatesys Gem will join another star Victorian filly Tracy The Jet in a quest…

Williamson with a host of chances at Gore

NZHarnessNews

By Jonny Turner  Clotilde Wainwright should find life a lot easier when she returns to Gore on Sunday. In her last visit to Eastern Southland, the four-year-old ran a fighting third behind one of the rising stars of New Zealand trotting in Tarragindi. This time the Nathan Williamson-trained mare slots into a Gold Chip Final, taking on maidens and one and two-win trotters. And it has made her a clear top-pick in early betting.  “She would be my best chance on Sunday,” Williamson said. “Her last run at Gore was…