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Southland based journalist Jonny Turner was in the winner’s circle twice as an owner today at the Winton Harness Racing meeting at Central Southland Raceway. His first winner came in the Night ’N Day Winton Trot when Don’t Stop Believing (Creatine) in the hands of Brent Barclay came with a powerful run down centre track […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray will load seven horses onto his truck to go to the Winton meeting tomorrow. Brett comments on each runner. Race One: Princess Alia (Captain Crunch) – driver Brent Barclay – FR2 Race One: Harvey (Sky Major) -driver Daniel Anderson – FR5 Race Three: Don’t Stop Believing (Creatine) – driver Brent […]
The win by Ride The Waves (Downbytheseaside) in the Woodlands Stud North Island Silk Road Series Final at Alexandra Park last Friday night further highlights the wonderful bloodline Southern breeder and horse hotelier Diane Cournane has developed over a long period of time. “I think she’s a very good progressive filly by the looks of […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray has a large team racing across the ten race card at Winton tomorrow. Here are his thoughts on their form and chances. Race One: Party Up Denario (Lather Up) “We’ve had a wee few troubles with her. This week she’s got a good draw. If she goes as good as […]
Ryal Bush harness racing trainer Brett Gray reckons Our Twinkle (Ultimate Machete) is the stable’s best bet of the day for the Riverton meeting at Winton tomorrow. “He’s racing super at the moment. He hasn’t got the best of draws but it could work out alright. It was a big run the other day. He […]
The annual Southland Harness Awards were held tonight at Ascot Park Racecourse in recognition of the sport’s highest achievers of last season. The Premier Award – the Regent Car Court Horse of the Year was won by Lakelsa. Owned by brothers Bruce and Al Sinclair and trained by Regan Todd, Lakelsa in the 2025 season […]
A number of first starters line up at Wairio tomorrow. Race One: Imperious Girl (Imperial Count) – trainer Craig Ferguson. This three year old filly went to five workouts for Brian Norman before transferring to Craig Ferguson’s barn from which she qualified by an impressive fifteen lengths, running home in 58.5. Imperious Girl is from […]
In a rare sign of emotion, Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray was quite moved after Hayley Jaccka (Always B Miki) won the $40,000 Vetsouth Equine/SSBA Southern Belle Speed Series Final at Winton yesterday. “I was quite proud of this win. Charlie and Ailsa (Smaill – owners) have been so good to us. It’s just awesome. […]
The aptly named Havtimewillfly (Art Major) aided by a super drive by Brent Barclay grew wings to win yesterday’s Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks heat at Ascot Park. Barclay and Havtimewillfly challenged for the lead early with Indulge Me and Ideal Crown on her inside. When Indulge Me pushed up Barclay dropped in on […]
Southland trained Miki’s Deal (Always B Miki) proved she has a touch of class when she outstayed eleven harness racing rivals in the Caduceus Club Three Year Old Ladyship Stakes at Alexandra Park tonight. The Brett Gray trained filly from the outside of the gate, was never close to the inside running line and endured […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray has nine runners at Ascot Park tomorrow. He talks to Bruce Stewart about their chances. Race One: Party Up Denario (Lather Up) -Driver Brent Barclay “She’s been racing well and I thought she went really good last week. She’s a good runner’s chance,” Gray said. Race Two: High Return (Bettor’s […]
Chicago Sky (Bettor’s Delight), Stumblin In (Always B Miki) and Miki’s Deal (Always B Miki) are three quality runners with very good credentials, and they make their return to the racetrack tomorrow at Winton. Chicago Sky last raced in the G1 New Zealand Pacing Oaks at Addington in November, running a cracking third behind Arafura […]
The Big Lebowski (Mach Three) has shone again on the grass. After winning the Riverton Cup seven days ago, he doubled down and won the $20,000 Cutler Real Estate Waikouaiti Pacers Cup at Oamaru today. After beginning well from the 40 metre mark, driver Blair Orange wasn’t happy with the pace in the middle stages […]
Ryal Bush owner Francis Russell had not raced horses for twenty five years. But a casual chat with her neighbour, trainer Brett Gray, got her back in the game. “Brett stopped one day and said it was time I got another horse. I thought to myself ‘why not?” Russell said. Consequently she attended the Christchurch […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray wasn’t sure if The Big Lebowski (Mach Three) would handle todays dead track at Riverton and as he rolled to the front, he wasn’t sure whether that would suit him either. However he needn’t have worried because under an inch perfect drive from Kirstin Green, the giant pacer won the […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray is keeping a close eye on the weather before today’s Riverton Trotting Club meeting at Riverton. He thinks most of his horses will handle the grass surface but that some could have their sprint blunted by a wet track. Arma Forest (Downbytheseaside) runs for the stable in Race Two. “He’s […]
Double Jeopardy, (Captaintreacherous) in the hands of harness racing driver Tim Williams was too good in the $25,000 Peter’s Genetics Roxburgh Cup, today’s feature pace at Roxburgh. After a solid start Williams got Double Jeopardy into the one one and mastered pacemaker Always Dreaming in the home straight, to win by two and a half […]
The Craig Ferguson trained Nek Delight (Bettor’s Delight) won her first race in nearly a year when she took out yesterday’s $25,000 Diamond Creek/SBSR Robin Dundee Crown at Ascot Park. “She was just going through the motions and we were just about to sack her. We took her to Oamaru and what happened was the […]
Confederate (Bettor’s Delight) has been sold and will race in America. He was purchased as a yearling for $240,000 at the NZB Standardbred Sales and was raced for a group of owners that included Katrina Purdon, Dean Shannon and his breeders John and Katrina Price. Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, over two seasons […]
Anita Mary’s (Fear The Dragon) win at Ascot Park today was extra special for Northern Southland owner Paul Hailes, as the three year old filly is named after his late mother. In the 2200 metre race driver Brent Barclay from a wide draw, stayed out of the early action and slotted the three year old […]
Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray heads to Ascot Park with a good team tomorrow, but he’s not been too lucky with the draws. In Race One, Gray has maiden trotter Don’t Stop Believing (Creatine) down to start. He has two runners in Race Two – Vice Chairwoman (Washington VC) and Anita Mary (Fear The Dragon). […]
The Wyndham HRC will make a decision on Monday as to whether they’ll race on their home course or elsewhere on Sunday 16th November. Their main grandstand was damaged in the recent high winds in the province, and the Club is expected to announce their decision on Tuesday. Trees next to the float entrance were […]
As well as having a strong presence at the Tuapeka HRC meeting at Invercargill on Sunday, Ryal Bush trainer Brett Gray will have two runners at Ashburton on Monday. In Race One on Sunday, Gray lines up the well-bred debutant Jaccka Ace (Father Patrick). He qualified by twenty three lengths at Winton two weeks ago […]
Both trainer Brett Gray and driver Brent Barclay were impressed with debutant Proposition Joe (Always B Miki) after the two year old took out the EH Ball ITM Mobile Pace at Ascot Park today. Barclay took the gelding straight to the top from gate two and other than shying at the bell lap the youngster […]
