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Enchanted Star’s victory at Methven was a celebration for harness racing trainer-driver Olivia Thornley on a number of levels. “It’s really special, especially training, owning, breeding and driving it, and being involved with the family,” she says. The win in the Denario Breeding Trot was Thornley’s first training success in what was her 12th starter […]
After casting a shoe and jumping a marker peg at his last start at Westport on Friday, the Regan Todd trained Spirit Downunder (Downbytheseaside) had a clean sheet today and duly won the $20,000 Dawsons Hotel Inangahua/Grey Valley Cup at Reefton. “Liv (driver Olivia Thornley) said when she went to pull the plugs he jumped […]
Hayden and Amanda Cullen look to have another nice three year old in their Rolleston barn, judging by the way Secret Wish (Better’s Wish) won at Oamaru today. The Cullens had a dominant group of three year old fillies last season with Arafura, General Jen and Winelight. In today’s Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks […]
Vessem (Vincent) enjoyed the torrid pace in today’s $40,000 G3 Macca Lodge Northern Southland Cup and proved too good for what was touted as the best field in some years. “He likes the speed on because he’s a pretty good stayer,” driver Olivia Thornley said. There was plenty of action up front early, with Always […]
Two new ambassadors will don the Teal this year to support the fight against ovarian cancer. Brooke Wilkins and Olivia Thornley will join Crystal Hackett, Sam Ottley and Kirstin Green as the official Team Teal ambassadors in the six-week campaign that starts on Sunday, February 1. Hackett is the only one returning from last year, […]
Alan Beecroft has been the real journeyman and on Sunday at Kaikoura, Royal Diedre (Royal Aspirations) provided the Weedon based trainer with his second winner. Alan was introduced to harness racing through his grandfather who’s brother was successful West Melton trainer Peter Yeatman. “I used to go out to the stables with Grandad when I […]
It looks like Rolleston trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen have unleashed a smart two year old judging by the way Zeus Lightning (Bettor’s Delight) won at Addington last night. Driver Olivia Thornley chose to bide her time at the back with the gelding and the strong pace suited Zeus Lightning. Turning in, Thornley let him […]
Hayden and Amanda Cullen’s harness racing stable has moved. Purdon Racing have vacated their Rolleston barn to head north, and the Cullens have relocated to the stable where they both previously worked as employees for All Stars. Hayden got started in the sport working for his father Barry and he worked in the school holidays […]
Vessem (Vincent) took full advantage of having a perfect trip on the back of a horse that was intent on leading in tonight’s $60,000 Group Two Continental Event Hire Superstar Championship at Addington, and he was rewarded with a well deserved win. From barrier one in the pacing feature, Beach Ball with Robbie Close on […]
West Melton harness racing trainer Olivia Thornley, who is a successful junior driver in her own right, will be presenting her first horse to the races at Addington today as a trainer. Thornley has tasted great success as a driver with 71 wins including two Group 1 victories, and recently finished third in the New […]
Chase A Dream’s (Captaintreacherous) win in the Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes final on Cup Day at Addington today (Nov. 14) is one that will live in the memories of harness racing pundits for a long time. From a wide draw, driver Olivia Thornley had no option but to take the two year old colt back […]
After another dominating win in the G2 Kaikoura Cup, Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) has been shortened to $1.90 in the betting market by the TAB for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on harness racing’s big day at Addington in fifteen days time. “We were a bit slow away again but he was able to get […]
Where there could have been nerves for young harness racing driver Olivia Thornley on Thursday night there was only belief. And Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) didn’t let her, or the punters down, with a winning resumption at Addington on a night where the only harness star to shine brighter was Thornley herself. The 23-year-old reinswoman was […]
Millwood Nike (Captaintreacherous) heads a strong Mark and Nathan Purdon assault at Addington tonight and the Rolleston harness racing partnership look to be in for a rewarding few hours. Unbeaten in her fourteen starts, Olivia Thornley has been given the task of piloting Millwood Nike in the Nevele R Fillies Heat. Mark expects Millwood Nike […]
The remarkable legs of aged trotter Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) just keep giving and today on the Motukarara harness racing grass track he chalked up his eighteenth win in the G3 DG Jones/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup. Starting off the back mark of thirty metres the seven year old stallion which is trained by Mark and […]
She put in a few fancy steps but harness racing mare No Matter Wat (A Rocknroll Dance) was good enough to hang on and win the $20,000 Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Stakes at Addington tonight (Mar. 31). The Mark and Nathan Purdon trained four year old has for most of her short career, been a bit tricky […]
Don’t Stop Dreaming provided junior driver Olivia Thornley with her second Group Two win when the classy two year old proved too good for seven harness racing rivals in the $60,000 Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic at Ascot Park today. “He’s a very classy horse who has a turn of foot that’s […]
