New Zealand
New Zealand|4.22.2013
Venus Serena serves it up in Gr.1 feature
West Melton conditioner Geoff Dunn trained his first Group One winner at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday April 19) while his nephew John drove his second when scoring with Venus Serena in the Group One $110,000 Caduceus Club Pace.
It was also the second time co-owner and breeder Bob Sandford won the 2200m pace for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Half-sister Rona Lorraine, a $170,000 yearling purchase, was also bred by Sandford. She won this race in 2007.
“This is a great thrill. I am very pleased for Bob and his wife Janine. She is a stunning racehorse. Her reserve price of $40,000 wasn’t met at the yearling sales, and Bob bought her back,” Dunn toldHarnesslink.
New Zealand | 4.6.2013
Mark Purdon wins 100th running of NZ Derby
Harnesslink | By Mitchell ROBERT
It was a fitting result that ‘Mr Derby’ himself – Mark Purdon, trained and drove the winner of tonight’s (Friday April 5) one hundredth running of the Group 1 harness racing event.
After leading out early from his ace alley, Border Control controlled the race before handing up to Bit Of A Legend who was made to work to find the top.
Meanwhile Ohoka Punter was also working hard, circling the field to find the parked position on what was a hot tempo.
On the home bend it was down to a race in three, the only question was who would come out on top?
New Zealand /3.30.2013
Bridgman on top with Awapuni double
Te Akau New Zealand’s resident trainer kicked off his double with Burgundy, who scored a gutsy win in the Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap, and was completed in the next race, the Gr. 2 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup, when former star Singapore galloper Better Than Ever refound winning form with a dashing display.
New Zealand / 11.14.2012
I Can Doosit unbelievable in NZ Free-For-All
New Zealand’s Harness Horse-of-the-Year not only won today’s (Tuesday November 13) Group One New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All at Addington Raceway – he absolutely annihilated his nine opponents.
The gifted son of Muscles Yankee racked up his 16th consecutive win in sensational form. Sitting parked he smashed the New Zealand 2000m standing start record by 4.2 seconds.
“That’s unbelievable. To be honest he never really got out of second gear,” said trainer/driver Mark Purdon.”He’s really on top of his game right now. I couldn’t ask for any better,” he added.
I Can Doosit stopped the clock in 2:25 flat. The previous New Zealand record set by Just A Cracker in 2011 was 2:29.2.
New Zealand / 11.13.2012
Franco Nelson has won New Zealand harness racing’s most coveted 3-year-old pacing event – the $180,000 Group One Sires Stakes Final. The Christian Cullen colt won the 29th edition of the 1950m mobile by 1-1/2 lengths and 1-1/2 lengths from Arden Rooney (Grant Payne) and Mista Mara (David Butcher).
Winning time: 2:20.7. Mile rate: 1:56.3. Last 800m: 55.9. Last 400m: 27.6. Winning dividend: $2.90.
Things however weren’t handed to Franco Nelson on a plate. When driver Craig Thornley went around to the lead at the 1000m he handed up soon after and then ended up three deep on the markers.Then just has things liked a bit tight for Thornley, Greenburn Creek and then Five Card Draw broke momentarily.
“He was always travelling well and when the gaps opened up at the right time I had to hesitation taking him around to sit outside the leader.”In the straight he felt extra. He’s a very nice horse. He could be back here competing here in a year,” Thornley said.
New Zealand / 11.13.2012
Reid – Herlihy combo nail Junior Free-For-All
The South Auckland harness racing combination of Steven Reid and Tony Herlihy kicked off their New Zealand Cup campaign 2012 in grand style today (Tuesday November 13) when Easy On The Eye easily won the Group Three Ricoh Free-For-All.
Pukekohe-based Reid said the 5-year-old had an interrupted campaign and for that reason was withdrawn from New Zealand Cup contention.
“It’s taken a bit to get him back on his game again but we backed off him and he’s gradually got stronger and stronger at the trials.
“He goes well fresh,” Reid said. Easy On The Eye was having his first start since running third behind Pure Power at Addington on October 12.
“He travelled beautifully today. He was travelling like the winner a long way out,” Herlihy said.
New Zealand / 10.28.2012
Pero Wins After Sweet Run – NZTM Racing News
The connections of Pero (NZ) (Storming Home) may have middle distance aspirations for their five-year-old, but he again emphasised his liking for a metric mile at Trentham with a career-high performance to win the Group Three Graeme Thomson Antique Jewellery Mile and record his fourth win from five attempts over 1600 metres.
Pero was a winter addition to Trina Riddell’s stable after the gelding’s previous trainer, Peter Hurdle, moved to Australia. He immediately found good form from his new quarters with a Wanganui win and a couple of placings, although his most recent start, an open handicap failure at Hawera, had Riddell searching for answers.
New Zealand / 7.30.2012
I CAN DOOSIT is NZ Harness Horse of the Year
Big night for Breckons at NZ Harness awards…
The ICE Bloodstock New Zealand Harness Racing Awards held at in Christchurch tonight (Saturday July 28) were a Ken and Karen Breckon benefit.
The couple, who own Breckon Bloodstock, picked up six awards at the annual dinner held at the Wigram Air Force Museum.
The one they will cherish the most is I Can Doosit’s 2011-2012 Harness Horse Of The Year award. It was a unanimous decision with the son of Muscles Yankee claiming all 37 votes.
Who else could the judges vote for after the hugely talented 6-year-old won 13 of his 15 starts, including the last 12 in a row.
New Zealand / 6.2.2012
Smolda equals NZ record in Emerald Final
The best was saved to last on Harness Jewels Day 2012 at Cambridge Raceway when Smolda equalled the New Zealand mile record of 1:52.1 in today’s (Saturday June 2) $150,000 Emerald for 3yo pacing colts and geldings.
It was a phenomenal performance by the Mark Purdon and Grant Payne trained gelding. He and co-favourite Ideal Scott had a real ding-dong battle for the lead for a big part of the race before Purdon took control down the back straight the last time…
New Zealand / 5.21.2012
Volkswagin lands in front of Myths and Legends.
Many think it would be a great achievement to live to age 80.
It would be a much, much greater thing to be 80 and look like Jim Hely.
Sixty years to the day on Saturday, Jim Hely rode what was to be the first of the countless steeplechase winners, Sandy, that made him possibly the greatest jumps rider this country has seen.
Appropriately that was at Te Rapa. Within a year he won the Waikato Steeplechase for Harold Brooks on Royster, which made Hely the perfect personality to present the trophy for the $35,000 Vernon & Vazey Truck Parts Waikato Steeplechase to Harold’s grandson Mark Brooks, whose Myths And Legends put many punters on the start of the slippery slope in Saturday’s massive Pick6…Read full article>>
New Zealand / 05.07.2012
Longshot pairing runs them ragged in Awapuni Gold Cup Sat, 31 Mar 2012
Longshots Riomoral and Phillip Turner lead all the way to win the Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup from Back In Black and Doctor Fremantle…
New Zealand / 05.07.2012
Four Group One winners for McMath & FLAIR
Posted on Monday, May 21st, 2012 at 6:24 pm.
Harnesslink News Room| 03:59 PM 07-May-2012| NZT
It was a Group 1 harness racing bonanza for FLAIR equine nasal strips on Friday night (May 4) at Alexandra Park with all four group 1 winners wearing Strips. They were: Escapee, Onlyforyou, I Can Doosit & Aussie, Mustang Mach.
To add to a wonderful night full of FLAIR three other winners on the card wore strips… Read full article>>
New Zealand / 04.27.2012
The 6-year-old son of Muscles Yankee won $100,000 in the Group One event and in doing so surpassed $1 million in stakes – not bad for a squaregaiter who hasn’t been beaten since November and who has now won 28 of his 45 starts.
New Zealand /03.12.2011
Harnesslink Admin |1:10 am |12 March 2011
Fly Like An Eagle adds to his huge reputation
“He’s right up there with the best two-year-olds I have trained.” That was the comment from Mark Purdon after he drove impressive juvenile pacer Fly Like An Eagle to a ridiculously easy 4-3/4 length victory in tonight’s (Friday March 11) Group One Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stake Final.
That is some statement to make because Purdon has trained some outstanding 2-year-olds in his career. But he was adamant this son ofMach Three was right up there with the best.
New Zealand /03.12.2011
Harnesslink Admin |1:10 am |12 March 2011
Fly Like An Eagle adds to his huge reputation
“He’s right up there with the best two-year-olds I have trained.” That was the comment from Mark Purdon after he drove impressive juvenile pacer Fly Like An Eagle to a ridiculously easy 4-3/4 length victory in tonight’s (Friday March 11) Group One Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stake Final.
That is some statement to make because Purdon has trained some outstanding 2-year-olds in his career. But he was adamant this son ofMach Three was right up there with the best.
New Zealand /03.12.2011
Harnesslink Admin |1:21 am |12 March 2011
Sushi Sushi wins Northern Derby: NZ record
Australian harness racing star Sushi Sushi not only won tonight’s (Friday March 11) prestigious Group One $400,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby by half a neck, but the brilliant 3-year-old also smashed Highview Tommy’s New Zealand 2700m record of 3:19.1.
The Freddy Taiba trained and Greg Sugars owned son of Art Majorstopped the clock in 3:17.02 (mile rate: 1:57.5) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 57.6 and 29.7 seconds.
New Zealand /03.04.2011
Harnesslink Admin |10:19 pm |4 March 2011
Major Mark back to his top 2 year old form
He might have gone one second quicker than Sushi Sushi’s first heat win at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday March 4) but champion harness racing trainer and driver Mark Purdon isn’t getting carried away with Major Mark’s chances in next Friday’s Group One $400,000 Derby Final for 3-year-olds.
New Zealand /03.04.2011
Harnesslink Admin |8:48 pm |4 March 2011
Reglan puts in a top Auckland Cup rehearsal
‘A great rehearsal for next week.’ That was the comment from master harness racing driver Anthony Butt in the Alexandra Park winner’s enclosure moments after Raglan won tonight’s (Friday March 4) $25,000 LBG Builders Mobile for 4-8 win pacers.
New Zealand /2.26.2011
Harnesslink News|2:35 AM|26-Febuary-2011 |
Tony Herlihy creates NZ racing history
New Zealand harness racing history was created at Alexandra Park in Auckland tonight (Friday February 25) when a legend nick-named ‘The Iceman’ became the first reinsman to drive 3,000 winners. No driver or jockey has won that many races before. Tonight Tony Herlihy – the 52-year-old they call ‘Alexandra Park’s favourite son’ changed all that!
New Zealand /2.15.2011
TV New Zealand|12:08 pm|February 13, 2011 |Source: ONE Sport
Mufasa upstages the competition
Rejuvenated top galloper Mufhasa again upstaged the best performed horses in New Zealand to record his fifth Group 1 win in the $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa yesterday.
“He has beaten the best field we have seen assembled for a sprint race in New Zealand for many years,” said Ardmore trainer Stephen McKee.
New Zealand /12.31.2010
Harnesslink Admin |3:36 pm |31 December 2010
Fly Like an Eagle another promising juvenile
Ken Barron’s mortgage on New Zealand’s 2-year-old pacing events was broken at Alexandra Park today (Friday December 31) when the Mark Purdon and Grant Payne trained Fly Like An Eagle won his harness racing debut in the third heat of the $25,000 Breckon Bloodstock Young Guns Series Pace.
New Zealand /12.17.2010
Harnesslink Admin |4:59 pm |31 December 2010
Gold Ace cements his Top 3yo ranking
Gold Ace’s harness racing bank balance rocketed from $167,129 to $307,554 with his sixth win from just 14 starts at Alexandra Park today (Friday December 31). The smart 3-year-old colt proved too classy when leading all the way in the Listed $260,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Final.
New Zealand/12.23.2010
Thoroughbred News
Black Type for Celaris
After racing in a professional manner, Celeris (5 B. M. Fusaichi Pegasus – Cuphill, by Danehill) gained a richly-deserved black type victory in the $45,000, Listed, Chainey’s Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Friday.
New Zealand /12.10.2010
Harness Link
Watch out Australia here he comes. I Can Doosit will leave New Zealand bound for Melton’s Tabcorp Park on Wednesday with a New Zealand Trotting record under his belt. The harness racing 5-year-old achieved the new mark in tonight’s (Friday December 10) Group Two $20,000 Lyell Creek Stakes.
New Zealand /12.17.2010
Harnesslink Admin |11:04 pm |17 December 2010
Lightning Raider upsets in Founders Cup
It’s not often on a Group One night of harness racing that New Zealand’s leading reinsman Dexter Dunn can get two outsiders home that pay more than $27 to win. But that’s exactly what the young Canterbury driver did at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday December 17) when Bettor Move It ($31) and Lightning Raider ($27.60) won races six and nine respectively.
New Zealand /12.17.2010
Harnesslink Admin |11:22 pm |17 December 2010
$200,000 Victoria Derby next for Gold Ace
Watch out Australia – New Zealand’s best 3-year-old harness racing pacer is crossing the ditch to take on your best in the Group One $200,000 Alabar 3yo Victoria Derby at Melton’s Tabcorp Park on February 5. That’s the plan according to Gold Ace’s trainer Steven Reid.
New Zealand /12.5.2010
ThoroughbredNews | 5 December 2010
Black type for Celeris
After racing in a professional manner, Celeris (5 B. M. Fusaichi Pegasus – Cuphill, by Danehill) gained a richly-deserved black type victory in the $45,000, Listed, Chainey’s Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Friday.
New Zealand /11.28.2010
Harnesslink Admin |10:44 pm |28 November 2010
Russley Rascal all class in Franklin Cup
Mark Purdon always had an inkling that Russley Rascal wouldn’t have too many problems stepping up from age group racing to the open class harness racing guns. As the Yaldhurst trainer-driver put it: “Last year’s 3-year-old crop was a very strong bunch and I think that was vindicated here tonight.”
New Zealand /11.27.2010
ThoroughbredNews | Jeff Dore |27 November 2010
Loose Change in Wanganui Cup
While there is generally an inkling as to which horse may have prevailed in many a close finish, the line-up of heads that appeared to reach to post almost simultaneously in the $50,000, Listed, Cambridge Thoroughbred Sales Wanganui Cup (2040m) required most, including the Judge, to take a second look.
New Zealand /11.26.2010
Thoroughbred Times NZ
Black type for Celeris
After racing in a professional manner, Celeris (5 B. M. Fusaichi Pegasus – Cuphill, by Danehill) gained a richly-deserved black type victory in the $45,000, Listed, Chainey’s Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m) at Otaki on Friday.
New Zealand /11.17.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 9:46 pm | 17 November 2010
Purdon-Payne to train Auckland Reactor
Top Canterbury harness racing trainer Mark Purdon never expected to get a second chance to train Auckland Reactor and admits he’s excited about the prospect of preparing the champion again, especially after a successful operation on his soft palate.
New Zealand /11.12.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 5:08 pm | 12 November 2010
Stylish Monarch slashes NZ record in Dominion
Mid Canterbury harness racing driver Ricky May has had a week he will never forget. The Methven reinsman has followed up Monkey King’s New Zealand Cup win on Tuesday with another feature Group One 3200m event at Addington Raceway today (Friday November 12) – the Hellers Dominion Free-For-All Trot behind Stylish Monarch.
New Zealand /11.10.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 6:46 pm | 10 November 2010
Mitchell wins another Group 1 at Addington
The harness racing wizard has done it again at Addington Raceway – this time without a wand. Todd Mitchell lost his whip at the 1400m but was still good enough to nurse Ima Gold Digger to an easy victory in today’s (Tuesday November 9) Group One New Zealand Free-For-All Trot.
New Zealand /11.9.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 8:15 pm | 9 November 2010
Nearea Franco brilliant – Free-For-All next
The Steven McRae trained Nearea Franco is back to her brilliant best if her win in the today’s (Tuesday November 9) Firestone Junior Free-For-All at Addington Raceway is anything to go by. The harness racing queen simply blitzed her 11 rivals in the Group Three $40,000 event.
New Zealand /11.9.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 8:12 pm | 9 November 2010
Herculean effort by Gold Ace in Sires Stakes
‘My greatest moment in harness racing’. That’s how Pukekohe trainer Steven Reid described Gold Ace’s massive half-head victory in today’s (Tuesday November 9) Group One NRM Sires Stakes Final for New Zealand’s best 3-year-old pacers.
New Zealand /11.6.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 12:08 am | 6 November 2010
The mile rate was only 2:04.2 but Russley Rascal’s easy two-length win in tonight’s (Friday November 5) feature pace at Alexandra Park was nothing short of startling. It was the 4-year-old’s first run back since Harness Jewels day on June 6 – but the way he won you’d think he’d been racing all season.
New Zealand/11.2.10
Can Dalgety Racing Stables Article| 2 November 2010 | By Jeff Scott
Kaikoura Cup winner Smiling Shard will bypass next Tuesday’s NZ Cup in favour of chasing a spot in the NSW Miracle Mile at Menangle on Saturday November 27.
West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety will now reserve him for the $200,000 Woodlands New Zealand Free-For-All over 2000m on Show day.
New Zealand/11.2.10
Harnesslink Article| 2 November 2010 | Harnesslink.com
Huge run by Smiling Shard – NZ Cup next?
The little horse with the big heart – Smiling Shard – sat three wide without cover for the last lap and put in a Herculean performance to get up and win the Group Two $50,000 Kaikoura Cup at the town’s picturesque South Bay Racecourse today (Monday November 1).
The son of Grinfromeartoear – Sly Shard (Panorama) drew nine and got back early before sitting in the three-wide death seat at the bell. When most pacers would have been tiring in the straight Smiling Shard and Dexter Dunn kicked again to hold out the fast finishing Highview Tommy (Blair Orange) and Sleepy Tripp (Mark Purdon).
New Zealand/9.5.2010
FEI Press Release | 5 September 2010 | FEI Communications
Caroline Powell rode a perfect Jumping round under pressure to become the first New Zealand female rider to win the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (GBR), the fourth leg of the HSBC FEI Classics™.
The win has propelled her into third place in the HSBC FEI Classics™, behind William Fox-Pitt (GBR), the new leader, and Andreas Dibowski (GER) with one event left, Les Etoiles de Pau in France in November, where Fox-Pitt has already declared a possible runner in Navigator.
New Zealand / 6.8.2010
nzhearld.co.nz | 8 June 2010 | by Mike Dillon
It’s not a new quote, but you never know when you’re winning in the racing game.
Tony Ihaka knew he was on the winner of the McGregor Grant Steeplechase, which was why he was sitting in the sauna at Ellerslie racecourse at 7.30am yesterday.
New Zealand / 6.7.2010
Thoroughbred News | 7 June 2010 | by Jeff Dore
Waitete Boy (9 B. G. Charnwood Forest – Tabura, by Sir Tristram) gave trainer Craig Amrein his biggest success when he raced away to win the $23,500, Grade 3, McGregor Grant Steeplechase over sixteen fences and 4150 metres on Queen’s Birthday Monday at Ellerslie.
New Zealand / 5.28.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 11:23 pm | 28 May 2010
Vicky Purdon has achieved a lot in harness racing, but a Jewels Crown has eluded her. In eight days time the Canterbury owner and breeder could have a ‘Jewels Diamond’ to take back to Christchurch with her – that’s if her 4-year-old mare Imagine Me can repeat tonight’s Friday May 28 victory at Alexandra Park.
New Zealand / 5.20.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 2:23 pm | 20 May 2010
Auckland Reactor N’s New Jersey trainer, ex-pat Kiwi Kelvin Harrison believes New Zealand’s two-time ‘Harness-Horse-of-the-Year’ can pace at least a 1:50 mile in his first American race at the Meadowlands on Saturday (May 22).
New Zealand / 5.17.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 12:23 pm | 17 May 2010
It was Purdon/Payne one two three at the end of the $146,047 Nevele R Fillies final today (Saturday) at Addington Raceway. The harness racing giants delivered the perfect result for the connections of Secret Potion (1st) Meredith Maguire (2nd) and Lancome(3rd).
New Zealand / 5.17.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 12:43 pm | 17 May 2010
Only one thing could get Nicole Molander to down the blue-and-grey star colours of Mark Purdon’s stable – her family. And it’s not the throng of family members who mobbed her after she produced a brilliant drive to get Secret Potion home in Saturday’s (May 15) $150,000 Nevele R Fillies’ Final at Addington.
New Zealand / 5.15.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 7:15 pm | 15 May 2010
It was the harness racing A-Team that struck again a race later after running the trifecta in the fillies final when Two year Kylie Ree rocked Paramount Gee Gee’s boat and sent favourite punters reeling in the Group two Sires Stakes Trotters Championship at Addington Raceway.
New Zealand / 5.14.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 11:13 am | 14 May 2010
At the Meadowlands qualifiers this morning, 6-year-old Auckland Reactor got his final tune-up for his North American debut. New Zealand’s reigning Horse of the Year won his third consecutive qualifier, this time in a best 1:51.2 with a final quarter of :27.4. He won by 14-1/2 lengths for driver John Campbell.
New Zealand / 5.7.2010
Harnesslink Admin | 7:54 am | 7 May 2010
Auckland Reactor won his qualifier today at Meadowlands Racetrack in 1:54, finishing 6-1/2 lengths ahead of the field and pacing the final quarter-mile in :26.3. The 6-year-old pacer, who was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2009, is preparing for his North American harness racing campaign under the guidance of trainer Kelvin Harrison.
New Zealand / 5.1.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 4:32 am | 1 May 2010
When Pukekohe harness racing trainer-driver Brent Mangos tells you Bettor Cover Lover is right up there with his former stable star Molly Darling then you have to sit back and think this little girl has one serious race horse.
New Zealand / 4.10.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 2:15 am | 10 April 2010
The eighth heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series Final at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday April 3) was a Brian West ‘benefit. The man at the helm of Studholme Bloodstock not only quinella-ed the $20,000 Pace but his mare Lancome smashed the New Zealand record 3yo fillies 1700m mobile record.
New Zealand / 4.10.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 2:09 am | 10 April 2010
North American stallion Bettors Delight would have been a proud Dad if he could have seen what three of his daughters were up to a world away at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday). Paradise City, Bettor Cover Lover and Highview Ebony filled the first three placings in the Auckland Trotting Club’s harness racing feature – the Group One $138,125 Caduceus Club Classic for 2yo pacing fillies.
New Zealand / 4.10.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 3:55 pm | 10 April 2010
Levels trainer Murray Tapper last night (Friday) enjoyed the highlight of his harness racing career when he trained Stylish Monarch to win the $80,000 Group One New Zealand Trotting Championship at Addington Raceway.
The promise of more to come looks heavily on the cards for the son of Monarchy who accounted for a tidy bunch of open class trotters. The six year old gelding’s professional approach and tradesman like manners, should stand him in good stead for future racing according to his trainer.
New Zealand / 4.6.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 10:38 am | 6 April 2010
Sleepy Tripp has stepped into some very big horseshoes with his win in the $80,000 Easter Cup at Addington on Saturday night April 3) . But he might just be good enough to fill them.
New Zealand / 4.4.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 2:48 am | 4 April 2010
A golden night for the Mark Purdon and Grant Payne harness racing stable was capped off beautifully when Courage Under Fire four year old Sleepy Tripp took out the Group One Stallion Station Easter Cup (3200m stand).
New Zealand / 3.13.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 12:26 am | 13-Mar-2010
Nicole Molander claimed her second Group event in seven days when the little harness racing filly she loves – Collectable – collected her third consecutive win in tonight’s (Friday) Group Three $100,000 Young Guns Delightful Lady Classic for 2yo pacing fillies.
New Zealand / 3.13.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 12:37 am | 13-Mar-2010
Harness racing giants, Mark Purdon and Grant Payne claimed their consecutive Group victory with half an hour when Major Mark easily won the Group Two $150,000 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday). It was the 2-year-old’s third win from six starts.
New Zealand / 3.13.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 12:39 am | 13-Mar-2010
“That one’s for you Neil even though I’m sure you are going to get well.” Those were the words of driver Blair Orange after Russley Rascal won tonight’s (Friday) Group One $500,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby for New Zealand’s best 3-year-old harness racing pacers.
New Zealand / 3.11.2010
Harnesslink News Room | 3:00 am | 6-Mar-2010
If anyone deserved to win a Group One race then its Brian West of Studholme Bloodstock. The prolific harness racing breeder has produced bucket loads of Group One champions over the years but tonight (Friday) at Alexandra Park West got to experience his very own Group One glory when Secret Potion won the $150,000 Northern Oaks for 3yo pacing fillies.
New Zealand / 1.3.2010
The Dominion Post | by Tim Barton
The king has reclaimed his crown.
Reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa put a frustrating 12 months behind him with a dominant win in the $200,000 Group I Fully Fledged Classic (1600m) at Otaki yesterday.
New Zealand / 1.3.2010
The Dominion Post | by Tim Barton
The king has reclaimed his crown.
Reigning Horse of the Year Mufhasa put a frustrating 12 months behind him with a dominant win in the $200,000 Group I Fully Fledged Classic (1600m) at Otaki yesterday.
New Zealand / 11.28.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 10:03 am | 28-Nov-2009 | NZT
John Dunn Likes coming to Auckland. The motorway traffic and the local rugby side he can easily give a miss, but there’s something special about Alexandra Park for the Canterbury reinsman. Six months ago Dunn won his first Group One race on the track. Tonight (Friday) he added a Group Two event to his harness racing CV.
New Zealand / 11.18.2009
Cran Delgety Racing Stables | Nov. 18, 2009 | by Jeff Scott
Auckland Reactor won’t get the all-clear to contest the $A500,000 SEW Eurodrive Miracle Mile on November 29 until his owners convene for a special meeting on Saturday.
New Zealand / 11.18.2009
Cran Delgety Racing Stables | Nov. 18, 2009 | by Jeff Scott
From toy poodle to Australasia’s top juvenile pacer . . . this is the curious case of Australasia’s top juvenile Smiling Shard.
New Zealand / 11.15.2009
Cran Delgety Racing Stables | Nov. 15, 2009
Chrissie Dalgety, Cran’s wife, has an integral role in the Kentuckiana Lodge operation.
New Zealand / 11.11.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 2:02 PM | 11-Nov-2009 | NZT
West Melton trainer Cran Dalgety was pleasantly surprised with Holy Hero’s neck victory over favourite Centreofattention in yesterday’s (Tuesday) Ballantyne’s Handicap for the two-to-three-win pacers. He said it was especially satisfying to win on harness racing’s biggest day.
New Zealand / 11.11.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 5:19 PM | 11-Nov-2009 | NZT
Boom American sire Mach Three continues to make a huge impact “Down Under’ following yesterday’s (Tuesday) New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington Raceway. The brilliant son of Matts Scooter recorded three winners at New Zealand’s premier harness racing meeting.
New Zealand / 11.10.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 10:16 PM | 10-Nov-2009 | NZT
Even Mark Purdon was surprised at the acceleration Auckland Reactor displayed when powering to a New Zealand harness racing record win in today’s Junior Free-For-All at Addington Raceway. In fact the Rolleston horseman likened the brilliant 5-year-old to driving a Ferrari.
New Zealand / 11.10.2009
Cran Dalgety Racing Stables | Nov. 10, 2009 | by Jeff Scott
Wollongong (NSW) businessman Bill Green achieved a long-held ambition when Holy Hero won on New Zealand Cup day at Addington on Tuesday November 10.
New Zealand / 11.10.2009
Cran Dalgety Racing Stables | Nov. 10, 2009 | by Jeff Scott
Champion driver Dexter Dunn almost pulled off a fairytale result with Bettor’s Strike in the $1 million Christchurch Casino NZ Cup at Addington on Tuesday November 10.
New Zealand / 11.5.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 12:05 AM | 05-Nov-2009 | NZT
Supersonic racehorse Auckland Reactor was back on track today (Wednesday) doing what he does best, winning! The Mark Purdon trained harness racing starshowed no signs of any backlash from his tardy standstart attempts, when he returned to his favoured mobile starts to put away a tidy field at the Addington Trials.
New Zealand / 11.5.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 12:05 AM | 05-Nov-2009 | NZT
Supersonic racehorse Auckland Reactor was back on track today (Wednesday) doing what he does best, winning! The Mark Purdon trained harness racing starshowed no signs of any backlash from his tardy standstart attempts, when he returned to his favoured mobile starts to put away a tidy field at the Addington Trials.
New Zealand / 11.3.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 12:11 AM | 03-Nov-2009 | NZT
Classy Canterbury mare Nearea Franco showed exactly why harness racing’s ultimate staying test, the NZ Cup over 3200m is right up her alley, when she fought back after being headed at the top of the straight, to win the final leadup race, the Group Two $50,000 Alabar Kaikoura Cup at Kaikoura today (Monday).
New Zealand / 9.25.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 10:38 PM | 25-Sep-2009 | NZT
Mark Purdon became the fastest trainer in New Zealand harness racing history to notch up 1000 training wins at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday September 25).
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New Zealand / 8.12.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 07:12 AM | 12-Aug-2009 | NZT
New Zealand / 3.30.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 03:36 pm | 30-Mar-2009 | NZT
Tim and Anthony Butt have won three Interdominion trotting championships but it was tonight’s (Saturday) first pacing title that brought their greatest moment in harness racing.
New Zealand / 3.10.2009
Harnesslink News Room | 01:56 PM | 03-Mar-2009 | NZT
Canterbury trainer/driver Mark Purdon described tonight’s Auckland Cup win by Auckland Reactor as the most satisfying moment of his 20-plus year career.
