Always back the horse named self-interest, son. It'll be the only one trying
The Ashburton Flying Stakes is – like the NZ Trotting Cup for pacers – one of the silliest named races in the world, for if you didn’t know you’d guess for all money it was a mobile start over a mile. It’s not though, it’s a 2400m race from a stand. It is also one […]
I am not sure if the New Zealanders have noticed, but the past three editions of their biggest harness race The Cup has been won by horses owned by Australians. Given the prominence in the Cup market of Aussie owned horses like Copy That, Self Assured, Rock N Roll Doo and Majestic Cruiser, I have […]
I get very confused trying to follow Copy That’s program through a campaign. Anyone would. Ten days ago the reigning NZ Cup holder wasn’t racing again until the big one on the second Tuesday of November. Now all of a sudden he is racing two weeks in a row, tonight at Alexandra Park and next […]
The bookies are getting excited about the brilliant 3YO colt Akuta’s first-up win the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru yesterday, and have wound him into $6.00 second favourite behind Akuta to win the Kiwi’s premiere harness race the NZ Trotting Cup, which is actually a pace (go figure). I don’t share their enthusiasm at all, for […]
Archie, For a moment I thought I was reading a Dr Barry Lichter penned Copy That media tyre-pumping piece. If you are going to compare Copy That with Self Assured it’s best to get the facts right. Self-Assured’s best mile rate to date is 1:50.3 set winning the Hondo Grant and at Menangle. (Editor’s note […]
There are three great pacers in the dominion. Self Assured, Lochinvar Art and Copy That. Any of them would be champions in any era. We have the great pleasure of all three racing right now. Copy That was first off the mark last night at Auckland, resuming from a nine month break in a standing […]
After a horrid run of 34 tips that failed, Marvellous Merv has finally broken the drought. Granted he did it with an odds on pop, but as my old mate the Poo always used to say, any price a winner. Merv’s got another one for you on Thursday night at Auckland. His great pacer Copy […]
Patience is a virtue. Copy That’s owner Merv Butterworth and his trainer Ray Green have plenty of it. The Champ resumed in a workout – our version of a trial – at Pukekohe Raceway this afternoon, against three top class horses. BD Joe is a Group 1 winner, OId Town Road is a rising star […]
Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has backed down on it’s plan to make this year’s NZ Cup and Dominion Handicap handicap stand starts this year. So they should too. But just to illustrate the problems with conflict of interest on the board, I wonder how HRNZ Directors Colin Hair and Robert Dunn – the owner […]
These are the words of Catherine McDonald, HRNZ General Manager of racing, marketing and communications, as contained in a letter send to club officials yesterday explaining the reasons for the changes in the conditions of five of New Zealand’s major harness races, four of them Group 1’s (the Invercargill Cup is a Group 3, and […]
