by Jonny Turner There is more to Duchess Of Kent than the brilliance she’s shown in her recent winning hat-trick. The three-year-old made it three-from-three this time in when speeding up the Ascot Park passing lane to win the Diamond Creek Farm & SBSR Silk Road Final on Sunday. Speed has been the key ingredient in Duchess Of Kent’s hat-trick of victories, with the filly settling handy in each before zipping home to score for driver Brent Barclay. As fast as she is, trainer Lauren Pearson thinks there is more…
Category: Meeting Previews
Jeremy Pearson claims first training success
by Mike Love Templeton trainer Jeremy Pearson trained his first winner yesterday when Coba Charged took out the Wouldn’t Be Here Without Ted & Di Enright pace, with Sam Thornley in the sulky. “It’s bloody brilliant,” said Pearson. It was Pearson’s eleventh race as a trainer, and only the second this season. It was Coba Charged’s ninth career start and maiden victory. Coba Charged made a good beginning from the outside of the tapes to be in the one out one back position briefly before being left parked. Over-racing in…
Kiwis make their presence felt on opening night of Inter Dominion
New Zealand’s raiders had a varied start to the Inter Dominion carnival at Albion Park, with two wins, a strong runner-up performance, and a few who’ll be looking to bounce back on night two. Mixed night for Kiwi trotters at Inter Dominion opener It was a tale of two very different stories for New Zealand’s two trotting stars on Inter Dominion opening night at Albion Park. The shock came when millionaire veteran Oscar Bonavena was bailed up in traffic and only finished seventh in the first trotting heat. Driver Adam…
Monarch Prince heads Howe team at Addington
by Mike Love West Melton trainer John “Coaster” Howe will be celebrating and recognizing his support crew at Addington today – as well as lining up four runners with strong chances. In race three the Congrats Hornby Panthers 15s! Grand Final Winners trot over 2000m sees KD Grins ($4.50FF) go around with Robbie Holmes in the sulky. The three-year-old Imperial Count filly has placed three times from eight starts and will look to use her manners and draw to secure an economical run. “It’s getting better with its manners. We’ve just…
Williamson’s team primed for strong showing at Ascot Park
by Jonny TurnerIs Sunday the day for New Zealand’s best maiden trotter to break through? To The Moon And Back has arguably earned that title after producing huge performances in his three starts so far. The three-year-old is part of a team filled with winning chances that Brad Williamson is lining up at Ascot Park. To win, To The Moon And Back will need to bring his best manners and beat his two stablemates, Penelope Lane and Muscle Mist. Those manners will be crucial if To The Moon And Back…
Purvis with an intriguing trio at Addington
Woodend Beach trainer Matt Purvis takes a trio of intriguing runners to tonight’s meeting at Addington Raceway. Kicking off in race one, the TAB 2nd & 3rd Bonus Cash Back Mobile Pace over 1980m, Kotare Kelso ($21.00FF) with driver Sheree Tomlinson will be looking to be competitive from his wide draw of seven. Purvis suggests a freshen-up has the four-year-old Always B Miki gelding in a good head space. “He’s had a bit of a freshen-up, and he seems good for it,” said Purvis. “He was hanging like a cheap…
Orange on the Hunt for 100 Wins Again
Blair Orange driving one hundred winners in a season might not seem like a big deal but as the seven-time premiership winning driver approaches three figures again, it’s just as important as the first time. “I remember the first time I got it done (2014) as it was with Donsmedad at Addington for the late Mike Austin who gave me so many opportunities early on. When I started out at Tim Butt’s, driving a winner was a goal so I never take any win for granted,” he added. It would…
Silk Road Final shapes as quality clash
The $34,000 Classique Landscapers Silk Road Final for trotting fillies and mares has drawn a terrific field full of form this Friday night. As is often the case at Alexandra Park the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett team dominate the trotting races numerically and have three very good chances this week. Two of those, Courmayeur and Melsadele have differing form lines and share the co back mark of 25m as they clash for the first time in their respective campaigns. The former galloped and took no part last week whilst…
Betterthancash gains Rising Sun start
Emerging Kiwi pacer Betterthancash is in the $300,000 Rising Sun field. As expected, a tentative flight to Brisbane for Chariots Of Fire winner Bay Of Biscay and his stablemate War Dan Buddy will not go ahead tomorrow. Trainer Emma Stewart scratched the pair and her Inter Dominion trotting hopeful Harold Smith last night from Saturday’s Albion Park meeting. Co-trainer Stacey White was thrilled to learn Betterthancash was in the field. “You feel for the connections of those horses and the club to lose a star like Bay Of Biscay from…
New syndicate brings energy to Cambridge Raceway
A new ownership group is bringing fresh energy to Cambridge Raceway, as the Taylor Street Syndicate begins to make its mark on the track. The Taylor Street Syndicate, established by Cambridge Raceway, was created with the goal of offering everyday people the opportunity to experience the thrill of harness racing ownership. Launched through the popular Taylor Street Club and extended to their friends, the syndicate now boasts around 40 enthusiastic members. Currently, the group owns three horses, and tonight, one of them takes to the track. Amaretto Delight lines up in race…