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Kyvalley Ray (NZ) (Bold Eagle) brought his New Zealand harness racing form to Australia on Saturday night when winning the Group One Need for Speed Prince (1720m) at Melton. While victorious in two of his previous five starts in Australia, the Brent Lilley-trained gelding’s best form has been in New Zealand, where he won six […]
With the help of Katie Williamson’s parents Ross and Robyn Jones, she and her trainer husband Nathan are able to juggle their busy lives to include breeding from some well-related mares. Adjoining Nathan’s stable, the family has a purpose-built breeding station with accommodation for foal watch, so everything is handy. Ross and Robyn are well […]
The Southern Bred Southern Reared (SBSR) draft for the 2027 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch is strong in numbers and has a real international flavour to it. Two fillies from Diamond Creek Farm and a colt and a filly by the all-conquering Captaintreacherous out of quality Australian bred mares lead the SBSR draft for […]
Duke of Bourbon (Face Time Bourbon) cost $240,000 and although he had one win under his belt has cost punters a bit of money to prior to winning tonight’s Addington feature. But on a big track, racing left handed for the first time and having to endure a false start, the colt gave some back […]
Steven Reid has known it for a while, but for the first time live on television tonight he said Jumal (Downbytheseaside-SBSR) is the best horse he’s ever trained. “I’m not taking anything away from any other horse, but I think he’s the best horse I’ve trained,” he said. The three year old, helped by an […]
The Southern Bred Southern Reared brand was to the fore at Addington tonight with the region delivering seven wins on the Premier night. Although she’s small in stature I’m The Boss (Bettor’s Delight) showed plenty of the traits of her sire, including toughness and a will to win. In tonight’s $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million […]
While the focus will be on some of the big name stables and higher profile horses at tonight’s Premier meeting at Addington, Southern trained horses will be well represented. Oamaru horseman Matty Williamson is taking four runners north; Axel Rose (En Solitaire), Tactical Bid (Tactical Landing), Oricorio (Father Patrick) and Seeking Clarity (Ultimate Sniper). Both […]
Canterbury owner and breeder Ronnie Dawe has won 137 races dating back to 2008 and is now synonymous with the ‘Rakero’ brand. Most of his early winners didn’t carry the name – the first Rakero winner was Rakero Rebel at Rangiora in January 2022. So how did Dawe get into the sport? “I was working […]
On Friday night three NZB Standardbred Sales Series races will be held at Addington. The series has been held since 1992, at which time PGG was the Sales Company running the National Sales. We take a look back at those inaugural winners at Alexandra Park. In 1992 the Sales Series for Two Year Old Trotters […]
Group One performer You’re So Fine(NZ) (Always B Miki) added to his harness racing stakes haul last Friday when claiming the Listed Howard Porter Memorial (2536m) at Gloucester Park. From his wide gate, driver Gary Hall Jnr eased his charge back to settle at the rear the pack, where he was content to stay before asking […]
The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Ya Rite Darl (NZ) (What The Hill) added another stakes win to her tally when she took out the Group Three Jasmyn’s Gift Fillies & Mares Stakes (2600m) at Oamaru on Sunday. She stepped away well from behind the 20m tape and settled at the rear of the field for driver John […]
NZB Standardbred graduate Blazing Home (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven) is continuing to excel in North America and last Saturday added the Grade 2 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace (1609m) at Saratoga Casino Hotel to his harness racing record. Trainer-driver Larry Stalbaum launched Blazing Home off the gate in search of the lead, however, there was plenty […]
There’s no better advertisement for the NZB Standardbred Weanling Sales at Karaka than Burnham harness racing trainer Bruce Negus and it was in evidence yesterday at Rangiora. Both of his winners Monkee Major (Art Major) and Hoppy’s Smile (Vincent) were bought cheaply from the Alabar draft at the 2022 and 2023 Sales. In her race, […]
Winton breeder Chelsea Faithful (SBSR) has plenty to juggle across a day. Working for Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson in the morning, she also trains her own small team. And in addition she has two brood mares to manage. “It’s worked for the last eight years, but it’s hard work. At the moment I’ve got too […]
Off The Canvas (Art Major) faced plenty of challengers at Ascot Park today, but he lifted when it counted and successfully achieved his first win. Williamson took the gelding straight to the top. He was always travelling like a winner and went down to the wire to win by a length and a quarter from […]
When you carry a name like Lomu the expectations are high and that legendary name sits firmly on the rump of Franco Lomu (Bettor’s Delight). The Regan Todd trained three year old is certainly heading in the right direction and his win last night at Addington was his third in just a handful of starts. […]
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 […]
Steve and Amanda Telfer’s thoughts of winning another Trainers Premiership might have diminished a bit, but in winning three races over two venues last night, there’s still a glimmer of hope they could get there. The Telfers are twenty five wins adrift of Premiership leaders Robert and Jenna Dunn. “They’ve got a bit of a […]
Despite uncertain times, Paul Howlett, Canterbury blacksmith, breeder and owner, remains positive about harness racing’s future. “I leave it to the people that get paid well. I just worry about putting shoes on horses and getting young people into the game. I just love going to the races with my mates and having a few […]
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 highly talented Always A Porsche (Always B Miki) is back at the racetrack after nearly two years off the scene. “He had suspensory troubles so we gave him a couple of spells and brought him back in again. He’s got chalky sesamoids and we just felt the bone hadn’t healed enough, so we gave […]
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 […]
The stunning record-breaking harness racing win by Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in Saturday’s 2026 Racing and Sports The Rising Sun, has been a few years in the making. The four year old mare was bred by Todd and Fleur Anderson of Taffy Limited and purchased as a weanling by Mick Boots. “It depends on what they […]
Entries for NZB Standardbred’s 2027 National Yearling Sale are now open, with the Sale taking place next summer at Karaka on Monday 15 February and at Christchurch on Wednesday 17 February. The National Yearling Sale continues to be the harness racing industry’s flag bearing event and source of racetrack champions. Despite a smaller offering in 2026, the […]
