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The undercard at last night’s Premier race night at Addington provided it’s share of highlights with none better than Captain Wolf’s (Captain Crunch) win in the Tyre General Mobile Pace. “I’m ecstatic. We were here to find out whether we were aiming high or low and we’ve found out we are definitely aiming high,” part […]
It was fitting that Captain Wolf (Captain Crunch) won the Tony Stratford Racing Mobile Pace at Gore today. The classy two year old is not only named after Tony ‘Wolfie’ Stratford, he’s also part-owned and trained by the Gore based horseman. “Timmy Grant who bred the horse named him after me on his own bat, […]
Local trainer Tony (Wolfie) Stratford’s strong numbers at his local meeting in Gore tomorrow will be lead by the promising juvenile Captain Wolf. Let’s listen to what he has to say about each of his team of nine. Race One: Van Liberty (Sportswriter) – driver Blair Orange – SR1 Race One: Amarula (Always B Miki) […]
Unbeaten trotting filly Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) was back at the workouts yesterday at Wyndham as she looks to kickstart her promising career. The now three year old’s last start was at Addington in September as a two year old when she beat Kyvalley Ray in the G3 ‘The Sundon’ before an injury halted her […]
A spectacular night of racing at Albion Park last night had plenty to like about it, especially if you’re from Southland in New Zealand. All three of the Group One winners in the main races were bred by southerners and all were developed by Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson in what must be a rarity in […]
The Fahy family owned Rakamurph’s (Captaintreacherous) win at Ascot Park was a fitting result for both the Fahy and Gillespie families. Friends Brendan Fahy and John ‘Snauzzer’ Gillespie went over to Australia to attend the Interdominions but very sadly and unexpectedly, John died in Brisbane last week. “He was always at the races. He was […]
There’s no better way to advertise your breeding brand than having winners on the racetrack and the Southern Bred Southern Reared brand had them in spades last night. The southern group who breed and sell as a collective, last night recorded three winners at Alexandra Park and four at Addington. And there’s the promise of […]
Southern driver Mark Hurrell has nine drives across the ten races at Invercargill tomorrow. Here are his thoughts on each runner. Race One: Pacific Arc (Washington VC) – trainer Brian Norman (F2) “He hasn’t had a good draw for a long time. The one horse (Rakamick) looks like he’s got enough gate speed to hold […]
Trendy’s Star, (Sky Major) after a picture-perfect drive from Mark Hurrell, cleared maiden class at Ascot Park today. From the inside of the second row Hurrell was quickly able to push through to be three back on the outside early. With a lap to run, he hooked out and moved up to sit parked outside […]
Despite being wide or parked for most of the trip, the Darren Keast trained Luxmi (Bettor’s Delight) proved too tough for seven rivals at Winton today. Driver Mark Hurrell was forced to snag Lumix back from her wide draw and when he decided to move forward he was left three wide at the 1200 metres […]
Shiver In The Dark (Rock N Roll Heaven) continued the wonderful record the Shirley family has had with this family. Bred by Raewyn Shirley, the three year old gelding is trained by Brent and raced by their son George. Shiver In The Dark is named after a line in the Dire Straits song Sultans of […]
Although he wasn’t happy at being three wide, driver Mark Hurrell secured what proved to be the winning run for Beach Day, (Sunshine Beach) duly winning the $40,000 Group Three Kubala Seeds Champagne Stakes at Wyndham today. Hurrell got onto the back of an improving Just Like Jagger and she gave Beach Day cover for […]
Southland driver Mark Hurrell and trainer Darren Keast are proving to be a potent combination, especially when Hurrell drives Tosana (Art Major). The combination won the second heat of the Vetsouth Equine Southern Belle Speed Series at Winton yesterday. From barrier four Hurrell pressed the go button and Tosana was soon in front from Just […]
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 […]
The win by the Craig Ferguson trained Kusama (Art Major) at the Wyndham HRC meeting at Winton yesterday produced the next generation of pacers from a breed the late Ronnie Macdonald established in the early 1980s. “I always thought she’d win one pretty quickly but I thought Brent’s one (Anita Mary) would be a bit […]
The Jamie Gameson trained Showcase (Vincent) is a regular visitor to the south and when she heads to Southland she heads to Mataura trainer Lyndon Bond. “Jamie has entrusted me with his horse and I feel privileged that way. The breed gets better with age. The owners are quite hard case fellas so it’s real […]
Wyndham trainer Craig Ferguson has found the key to three year old trotter Massive Merc, (Muscle Mass) and his connections were rewarded again today at the Tuapeka meeting when he stormed home to win by a nose. For punters it was a nervous watch with Massive Merc galloping after the tapes were released. “He trotted […]
A couple of two year olds dominated their older rivals and quinellaed the first race at Wyndham today. The winner Surreal Moran, (Stay Hungry) trained by Darren Keast and driven by Mark Hurrell, took charge from the mile dispatch while filly Justaweesip sat parked and finished second, a half a head from the winner. “I […]
Trainer Tyler Dewe and stable driver Mark Hurrell have finally worked out how best to handle Share A Dream (Art Major). Today from a second line draw Hurrell dropped the five year old back, settling last. He got a nice drag into the race on the back of Magic Sign and Hurrell brought the gelding […]
Based on her pedigree and coming from a stable renowned for turning out good trotters, the Nathan Williamson trained first starter Diva Bee (Marcoola) was always going to be hard to beat at Ascot Park today. The punters thought so too, making the three year old daughter of Hawaiian Hula the favourite. “She handled herself […]
Southland trained mare Beach Day’s (Sunshine Beach) win in the $50,000 Listed Rico Lodge Uncut Gems Mares’ Classic was trainer Greg Hunter’s first winner at Addington and his biggest in a harness racing career that spans thirty years. The five year old mare is also the first horse the former Wyndham now Kennington based trainer […]
Kennington harness racing trainer Greg Hunter in the thirty years he’s been training, has never raced a horse at Addington. But that’s about to change. On Friday night Beach Day (Sunshine Beach) will don the Hunter colours in the last race at Addington and will hopefully do the southern horseman proud. “There’s nothing for her […]
The win by Share A Dream (Art Major) today at the Invercargill Harness Racing Club meeting came as welcome relief for both his trainer Tyler Dewe and driver Mark Hurrell. Both have experienced a lean patch. Dewe’s last winner was at Winton in late February and Hurrell’s most recent success was in the middle of […]
Wag Star (Sweet Lou) has two Cups on his radar and tomorrow’s Alabar Kaikoura Cup will be the decider as to whether the Wyndham trained harness racing gelding will start in the IRT New Zealand Cup on Tuesday of next week. “If he manages to get a spot in the Cup we’ll certainly go. It’ll […]
