By Jonny Turner Take two showed Blair Orange everything he needed to see ahead of the Group 3 Placemakers Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday. After taking out last year’s edition of the Oamaru feature, the leading reinsman is back in 2025, renewing his association with star pacer Don’t Stop Dreaming. Don’t Stop Dreaming starts his march towards the New Zealand Cup on Sunday, having trialled twice for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen. The first of those was a quiet outing, but the second gave Orange the feel he wanted.…
Category: Meeting Previews
Speed machine takes out Metro Trot Heat at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin For the majority of racehorses their problem is not having enough speed. Not Loteria. Her problem is controlling all the speed she has. The rapid going four-year-old recorded her third career win when overcoming an unruly starting position in a Metro Trot heat at Alexandra Park on Friday night and did it in style. She smashed favourite Pretty In Pink after looping the field in the middle stages and racing to a two-and-three-quarter length win looking to have a few gears still left. Loteria is trained by…
Tarragindi and Berrettini take centre stage at Addington
By Michael Guerin Tarragindi is so good trotting trainer Phil Williamson is putting his money where his mouth is. And that means the easy Friday night winner from Addington will be in the $500,000 Ascent at Addington on Show Day. The three-year-old made it four wins in nine starts with a 57.9 second last 800m to bolt away by four lengths on Friday, suggesting he is getting better with every run. He didn’t need that win to convince Williamson and wife Bev, who owns Tarragindi, he deserves a shot at…
Stable quinella with two Donnelly debutants at Cambridge
By Jordyn Bublitz Arna Donnelly’s pair of juveniles announced themselves in style at Cambridge Raceway last night. Two-year-old stablemates Critical Image and Lulana ran the quinella on debut in the Harness Hoedown Tickets On Sale 25th Sept Mobile Pace. Donnelly purchased Critical Image, at the 2024 National Standardbred Yearling Sales. He was given a perfect steer by Zachary Butcher, enjoying a sweet trip in the one-one before pouncing late to score. Lulana, bred by long-time stable client Kevin Madgwick, did it the hard way. With James Stormont in the bike,…
Hannon Memorial Fun Facts
Akuta will emulate two all-time greats if he wins Sunday’s Group 3 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru. The Mark and Nathan Purdon-trained star is a $2.10 favourite to take out the Group 3 feature for a second time. His previous win was in 2022. If Akuta wins this weekend he’ll do what the likes of Blossom Lady and Johnny Globe have done before – and that is win two Hannon Memorials three years apart. Blossom Lady won in 1990 and 1993 (as well as winning the New Zealand Cup in 1992)…
Caig’s dual success at Invercargill
By Jonny Turner Winton breeder-owner Michelle Caig lived a harness racing dream at Ascot Park on Thursday. Caig enjoyed dual success with half-sisters Penelope Lane and Our Rose Hill, both trotting to victory. Caig bred both horses, while she also races Penelope Lane from the Brad Williamson stable. Though she has been breeding horses with good success for several decades, the thrill of winning hasn’t diminished. “This is what you dream about when you breed horses,” Caig said. Penelope Lane produced an excellent win in her debut at Wyndham in…
Jukebox Gypsy headlines O’Reilly’s four drives at Addington tonight
By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk Gerard O’Reilly could get his night off on the right note at Addington tonight. Th Ashburton-based trainer-driver has four drives, starting with Jukebox Gypsy in Race 1, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace (5.31pm). After three seconds in her last four starts the Rock N Roll Heaven four-year-old is well placed, and heavily supported, to get just her second career victory at start number 31. Drawn 4 over 1980m, she’s currently a $2.15 favourite. “She’s shown enough gate speed to…
Belle Neige vying for three in a row at Alexandra Park tonight
By Michael Guerin The best tip in the main trot at Alexandra Park is actually hidden away in the market for another race. That race is the $400,000 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot at Addington on New Zealand Cup day and if you scroll far enough down the market you will find Belle Neige paying $151. Which is fair, because she almost certainly won’t win the Dominion. But the fact she is even entered for the great race means she is the one to beat in the 1700m mobile trot at…
Brittany Graham – What’s caught my eye this week?
Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column. By Brittany Graham As the harness racing scene really starts to heat up, here is what has caught my eye this week. Black Booker War Chief was exceptional on debut in the first heat of the Woodlands Sires Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings behind Cyclone Rebel and appears to have a very bright…
Leithen Louie big chance at Invercargill today
By Jonny Turner A stern debut test has primed Leithen Louie to show his potential at Ascot Park today. The three-year-old heads to Invercargill for start two after a strong first up fourth at Oamaru for trainer Tony Stratford. Leithen Louie ($1.80FF) was well supported in his debut and is set to start at even shorter odds for start two in the Cruickshank Pryde Supporting NZHAT Mobile Pace (2.21pm). The good news for his supporters who are keen to stick with the progressive pacer on Thursday is that he’s only gotten…