Category: Meeting Previews

By Michael Guerin Unbeaten filly Millwood Nike’s spring campaign is back on track after a winning trial at Ashburton on Tuesday. The 15-from-15 filly missed her latest engagement at Ashburton last week because of a stable incident on the day of the race but was back at the same track for a 2400m standing start trial. And it wasn’t just any trial as she took on her stablemate and NZ Derby favourite Don’t Stop Dreaming and beat him home by a head. “They were both good and went to the…

By Jonny Turner A big week could get even bigger when Brendon Hill heads to Methven on Wednesday. The trainer takes two horses to a rescheduled meeting after producing Jimmy James Maguire to win the NZB Standardbred Sales Series Classic at Kaikoura on Monday. After brilliantly consistent form, the pacer finally nabbed a big race when leading throughout for his driver and part-owner Ricky May. “He was really good; you’ve just got to step and get handy out on that track, and that’s what he did,” Hill said. “The horse…

Join hosts Greg O’Connor and Michael Guerin for this week’s edition of The Box Seat. 

The shadow fields have now been decided for three key Group 1s during IRT New Zealand Cup and Show Week at Addington. The last heats for the Woodlands 2YO Colts and Geldings Sires’ Stakes, the Dunstan Horsefeeds 2YO Sires’ Stakes Fillies and the Nevele R Stud 50 Years of Success 3YO Fillies series were held at Ashburton on Labour Day (Monday, October 23). Cold Chisel’s victory in the 2YO Colts and Geldings heat sealed him a place in the final on IRT New Zealand Cup day on Tuesday, November 14,…

By Michael Guerin Two imposing victories less than 24 hours apart have left the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup feeling like a two-horse race. Of course it isn’t. The $750,000 Cup at Addington on November 14 will probably have its usual 15 starters but punters may now only have eyes for two. Many of those eyes will be on Akuta, who backed up his Flying Stakes win at Ashburton last Monday with an effortless stroll around to win the Alabar Kaikoura Cup. Akuta was cautiously away but was expertly handled…

By Michael Guerin Northern pacer Old Town Road is good at something he probably has no right to be good at. Whether that is enough to win today’s $60,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup could come down to the manners and tactics of his key rivals. Today’s 2400m standing start feature looms as a huge pointer to the New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 14 as it pits Old Town Road against Akuta for the first time this campaign, with Self Assured among their opponents as he looks to regain something like…

Now that many of the very best horses are coming out to play we are regularly updating what’s happening at the trials right around the country. Here’s the latest installment. Wyndham Workouts Sunday 29th OctoberWeather Fine Track Fast Macandrew Navigator (5g Sir Lincoln – Arts Mistress) The Douglas trained runner settled back in the six horse field, improved three wide 500m out to take issue, kept up strong run under his own steam to just miss outfinishing Pay Me Speedy who had all favours along the markers. MR:2:03.1, 800m in…

The Katie Cox fund is now at $130,000 after a massive response from within and outside the harness racing community. The talented and respected trainer-driver, who is 33, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. A charitable trust was set up to help her with her medical and other expenses, and the response has been incredible. In the following Facebook post she thanks everyone who has supported her. To Everyone, Just wanted to say a massive thank you to each and every person (clubs, trainers, owners, drivers…