Category: Meeting Previews

By Jonny Turner  There were differing fortunes for old friends Bruce Wallace and Phil Williamson on Southern Surge Finals Day. But both still managed to secure two of the major prizes on a big day of southern harness racing in Gore. Williamson and Wallace aren’t just friends, they’re connected by one of New Zealand’s greatest broodmares in Frances Jay Bee. In the 1990s, Wallace owned and trained the mare with Williamson doing the driving before he took over the training. Following her retirement, Wallace bred the mare on a turnabout…

By Jonny Turner Share A Dream can take his comeback story to another level with victory in one of Sunday’s Southern Surge Finals at Gore. It was only in March that the pacer’s chances of making it back to the track were up in the air. Share A Dream showed promise early in his career in Canterbury before spending around 14 months away from the races through injury. But during a whirlwind last couple of months, the five-year-old has raced through the grades under the care of trainer Tyler Dewe.…

By Jonny Turner  It should be straightforward for one of Phil Williamson’s rising stars, but not as easy for another in the finals of the Southern Surge. Southern harness racing’s newest series is set to finish with a bang with eight outstanding finals set down to be run at Gore on Sunday. The Williamson-trained Rangitata could claim the title of being New Zealand’s best handicapped horse when he starts in the first final of the Southern Surge. The three-year-old was a powerful winner of his first start in the first…

By Mike Love  Rakaia trainer Stuart Sutherland takes two runners to the Rangiora meeting on Sunday, both of whom look each way chances.  Sabi Sands ($4.40FF), in Race 2, the Barnsy’s All Trade Services Pace (1.10pm) over 2000m, is backing up from last Sunday’s debut effort at the Kurow meeting where he ran third. “He’s come through the run well. He’s eating up and seems a happy horse,” said Sutherland. The big four-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, who will be driven by Kimberley Butt, has had his fair share of…

By Jordyn Bublitz  How fortunes can change in the space of a few weeks. On July 31 Dreams Of Eric fell soon after the start of his race at Cambridge. Last night the promising three-year-old colt was back at the track and in the winners’ circle after delivering a determined front-running victory in the NZ Farmers Livestock Mobile Pace. Drawn wide in barrier 8, Dreams Of Eric faced a tough task on paper, but co-trainer and lessee Nathan Delany was quietly confident in the colt’s chances after some sharp work…

Boom pacer Marketplace has had his first serious hit-out ahead of what promises to be a massive few months. The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old, a winner of 10 of his 16 starts, hasn’t raced since his Group 1 success in the Garrards NZ Sires’ Stakes Series 3YO Colts and Geldings Final at Addington on May 16. He then had a five week break before heading to the water walker at Brian and Leslie Court’s in Canterbury. Then there was some light cantering before getting the hobbles back on and the serious…