Category: Meeting Previews

A new fixed odds feature is proving popular on hrnz.co.nz Displayed in the “Fields” section of the website, the odds are posted alongside the horse, driver and trainer information. Anyone clicking on a runner’s price will then be directed to the TAB website or app, and to the race in question. The odds go up on hrnz.co.nz as soon as the TAB has framed their market for the meeting, with the updates getting more regular the closer it gets to race time. “Harness racing is a wagering-driven sport, and punters…

By Michael Guerin One of the great strengths of New Zealand’s best ever standardbred stallion Bettors Delight could also be a reason Lady Of the Light gets beaten at Alexandra Park tonight. Lady Of The Light opened favourite for tonight’s $20,000 Thank You To The ATC Stewards Pace (8.08pm), in which she faces a 20m handicap over 2200m. Overcoming that alone is no easy feat but adding to her factor of difficulty is Lady Of The Light being fresh up tonight since January and having only had two workouts. “There…

By Michael Guerin The path to us finding out just how good Jumal really is starts at Addington tonight. And that could range from a very good early season juvenile to an actual superstar and genuine elite level pacer. The Steven Reid-trained colt resumes in the $14,000 Tabak Business Sales and Vivace 2YO Mobile Pace (7.28pm) tonight that bats far above its stake level, with stunning debut winner Zeus Lightning, four reps from Team Telfer and the Regan Todd-trained Stumblin In also engaged. So we might know a fair bit…

The big guns are coming. Nominations for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup and the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot closed at 3pm (NZT) today.  There are a total of 34 nominations for the New Zealand Cup and 41 for the Dominion – both Group 1s will be held at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. Headlining the nominations for the Cup are the two gun Australians, Leap To Fame and two-time champion Swayzee while another feature of the final nominations are the four Lee-trained runners from Victoria including trotting superstar Keayang…

By Jordyn Bublitz  Roydon Downey will launch a two-pronged attack in tonight’s IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Winter Rewards Handicap Trot (Race 5) at Cambridge Raceway, with siblings Sans Au Revoir and Santapazienza both stepping back in grade and looking well-placed to feature. Both trotters have been racing against strong opposition of late at Alexandra Park, and now get a chance to capitalise on slightly easier company in the $20,000 feature. Sans Au Revoir, a seasoned campaigner, brings experience and consistency to the table. Kate Coppins retains the drive after partnering…

By Adam Hamilton  Cam Hart admits there was some level of relief mixed in with excitement when dual IRT NZ Trotting Cup hero Swayzee brilliantly won a Menangle trial today. It was the mighty stayer’s first public outing since finishing fourth as favourite in the $1.25m Group 1 Nullarbor at Perth’s Gloucester Park on April 25. And it cemented a first-up tilt at next Saturday night’s $150,000 Group 1 Len Smith Mile at Menangle. “I drove him in work last week and told Jase (Grimson, trainer) he felt as good…

100 training wins for Jeremy Young, Terror To Love retiring from stallion duties, stunning sections from Menangle and a request for racing memorabilia all feature in this week’s News Briefs. 100 wins for Jeremy Young Jeremy Young recorded his 100th training success when Big Herb and driver Sailesh Abernethy combined to win the Woodlands Stud – Here for the Horse Mobile Pace at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The outsider in the seven horse field prevailed by a length, paying $13.90. It was Young’s ninth win this year. His first…

By Jonny Turner  Brad Williamson made the inaugural Southern Surge Finals Day one to remember when driving his 500th winner in New Zealand. The Oamaru horseman completed the feat in his own colours when Aint No Angel produced a decisive victory. Williamson won’t find some of the biggest moments of his career among those 500 wins. That’s because he’s driven seven winners in Australia, including three at Group 1 level and one Group 2. “It took me a long time to crack the Group 1 thing but I got there…