Category: Punting

A life after racing for Standardbreds can include all manner of things – from trekking and back country adventures to eventing and the show ring. And for one particular group of Canterbury-based Standardbreds and their NZSRA (NZ Standardbred Riding Association)  member riders it is all about doing what they enjoy. “This is not the sort of competing we do often – it’s just about having fun and testing all the hard work we have put into our horses,” says one of the team members Melissa Whyte, a well-known owner and…

By Mike Love  Ashburton trainer John Morrison trained a double at yesterday’s Methven meeting, bringing up his 50th training success in the process.  In Race 1, the Methven Resort and Opuke Hot Pools Trot Lottie’s Moment was far too strong. Driven by Morrison the four-year-old Majestic Son mare began well from their unruly mark to settle midfield. Peeling at the top of the straight, Morrison let the mare down, showing a strong turn of foot to burst away and win by three lengths from runner up Macho Man.   “She…

By Michael Guerin Winning any races with your mates is one of horse racing’s great joys. Winning a Group 1 is even more special. Two long-time friends combined both into the same first when We Walk By Faith stormed to victory in the Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.  The NZ Derby winner is trained by Hayden Cullen and wife Amanda and was driven by Matthew White, with Hayden and Matty having known each other since they were 16-year-old lads growing up in Cambridge.  But remarkably this was…

By Michael Guerin A horse who started the season a maiden almost cost trainer Tim Trathen his voice in the richest race at Addington on Friday night. Nellie Doyle has gone from maidens to winner of the $52,500 Future Wealth Sires’ Stakes Classic in the space of three months and 1 day, giving Trathen the richest win of his training career.  “I haven’t yelled that loud in a while,” says the West Melton trainer.  “We won the Invercargill Cup with Dadndave a few years ago but it wasn’t worth as…

 By Jonny Turner Matthew Williamson has Florence The Machine on song, but the trainer-driver hopes she can hit higher notes.  The four-year-old added win number three to her record when running her rivals off their feet at Winton on Thursday. Florence The Machine has built a strong record since joining the Williamson stable, winning two of her last three starts for Canterbury owners Craig and Caroline White. But it hasn’t been smooth sailing along the way. “She gets pretty keen early in her races and today was no different, she…