Category: Punting

By Michael Guerin The two most complete pacers in New Zealand return at Addington tonight with the same problem. Because both Marketplace and Republican Party are so good they are supposed to win but both could easily get beaten without losing their crowns. It is a common story in modern harness racing: wonderful horse gets bad draw or tough handicap in comeback race and connections want him driven conservatively so he starts his campaign with a positive experience. If you think you might have read this story before you have.…

By Michael Guerin Ben Butcher thinks Pantani might be getting to the top of his learning curve just in time for tonight’s Metro Trot Final at Alexandra Park. The Cambridge trotter will start odds on in the $35,000 final after winning the stronger of the two heats run a fortnight ago by 10-and-a-half lengths, suggesting he is close to a good thing tonight.  On that last start, and best form of 2024, Pantani probably should win again but there have been plenty of lows in between, with caretaker trainer and…

Kiwis all over the country are being encouraged to get behind the “Backing Blair” campaign at this November’s World Driving Championship. Seven-time New Zealand champion Blair Orange will be carrying the harness racing hopes of a nation when he wears the Silver Fern from November 2-11. And now fans can show their true colours. A line of Backing Blair merchandise has been designed specially for the WDC and a range of socks, beer coolers, caps, sunglasses and flags will be available for people to purchase. The merch will feature Orange’s…

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk   In-form trainer Matthew White’s not sure what to make of Forgiveness in tonight’s IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Handicap Trot (6.31pm) at Cambridge. There’s no doubting the Father Patrick five-year-old’s ability but she has not produced much so far since trekking north. She’s had three unplaced starts for White after winning six down south for Paul Nairn, including a four length win at Addington in May this year. “She can be a bit ‘in and out’,” says White, “but she’s had a freshen up…

Up 10 places in a week, Paris Prince is now in contention to make the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot field at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 11. The Fred Fletcher-trained Paris Prince has gone from 28th to 18th in this week’s rankings, just three places outside the cut-off. His promotion comes on the back of his game second to the super impressive Oscar Bonavena in the Group 3 Elite Stride D G Jones Memorial Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup at Motukarara. Paris Prince, a Royal Aspirations seven-year-old, is the winner of 10 races and…

Check out this week’s The Box Seat with hosts Matt Cross, Brittany Graham and Greg O’Connor.   

For the second time in three years top class broodmare Carlas Pixel is on the market. By Courage Under Fire out of Pixie Perfect, the now 11-year-old mare is up for sale on gavelhouse.com. The auction closes tomorrow with current bidding at $30,000. As a racing proposition the royally-bred Carlas Pixel won 19 races and nearly $500,000 in stakes, with a lifetime best of 1:49.5. Her first foal sold for $270,000. She is currently in foal to Captaintreacherous.  In 2023 she was offered up on gavelhouse.com and bought by John…

By Adam Hamilton  Leap To Fame will launch his campaign aimed at the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with an Albion Park trial on Thursday. In an exciting twist, trainer-driver Grant Dixon is seriously considering heading across the Tasman earlier than expected. “There’s a good chance we’ll fly to NZ straight out of Melbourne, rather than go back home and then get a flight to Auckland from Sydney,” Dixon said. “If we can go straight from Melbourne, it would make sense and save us a lot of other travel.”…