NZ METRO TC, Thursday, August 25 Race 5: ZENA MAC (6, Wayne Higgs) & PERISSA (9, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Zena Mac could be a bit of place value with the right run.” “Perissa finds a similar claim race as when she won a couple of weeks ago at Rangiora so she should be very hard to beat again in that field.” Race 6: CROFT BAY (12, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std: “He’s been racing very good. Should be a good each-way chance.” Outside drive Race 8: SHAKIN IT UP (8), mob. 1950m: “Went better last week. An upset chance with …
NZ METRO TC, Aug 19-GORE HRC, Aug 21
NZ METRO TC, Friday, August 19 Race 7: KOWHAI MONARCH (9, Samantha Ottley), UR 2, 10m, 2600m std: “Raced good in the Super Series Final and a chance again with the right luck.” Race 8: CROFT BAY (7, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Did well off 20m last start. Won good in front over 1950m two starts ago and back on the front row he’s probably my best chance but its a good field.” Race 10: ZENA MAC (12, Wayne Higgs), 15m, 2000m std: “Could reach a place with the right luck.” GORE HRC, Sunday, August 21 Race 8: NICAEA FRANCO …
Alabar Super Series quick facts
ALABAR SUPER SERIES – QUICK FACTS Last week’s Alabar Super Series events, which have become a real feature on Addington Raceway’s calendar, was the 12th occasion these races have been conducted over the last four years. Designed to reward those horses and connections that support Addington Raceway on a regular basis, the success of these $23,500 events can be seen in the quality of the fields that contest them and a look at past results makes for interesting reading. Average tote win dividend is approximately $7.50. Largest win dividend was $36.30 when now course mile record holder Vice Chairman was …
RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, August 14
RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, August 14 Race 3: ZENA MAC (5, Wayne Higgs) & PERISSA (7, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2600m: “Both mares found the line well the last bit at Addington last week.” “Zena Mac can place with a good trip.” “Perissa’s been a racing a bit below her best but was better last week and drops down a grade. Its a winnable race for her.” Outside drive Race 4: SHAKIN IT UP (4), 2600m std: “One of Andrew Stuart’s. She made a mistake on debut in June so take on trust.”
New Overport owner enters the Nearea Franco line
‘NIKE’ & ‘NICAEA’ ENHANCE VALUE OF FILLY FOR NEW OWNER The outstanding career of NZ-bred mare Nike Franco was the catalyst for Gold Coast-based Mark Denyer to secure her Mach Three half-sister from the NZ Premier Yearling Sales in Christchurch six months ago. A new owner for Overport Lodge, Mr Denyer is primarily aligned to the Dean Braun stable in Australia, but two filly purchases from the NZ sales have remained with Burnham trainer Mark Jones for their early development. Nike Franco’s half-sister Naiya Franco was secured for $70,000. Dean Braun prepared Nike Franco for much of her illustrious Australian …
NZ METRO TC-KUROW HRC, August 5-7
NZ METRO TC, Friday, August 5 Race 5: CROFT BAY (11, Samantha Ottley), UR 1, 20m, 2600m std: “Well-rated in front to get a win last week but is going to be up against it tonight off 20m giving a start to Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s two smart ones.” Race 6: SANDOVAL (SCR), & PERISSA (8, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1950m: “Perissa’s been a bit below where she should be lately so needs to lift.” Race 7: ZENA MAC (9, Wayne Higgs), mob. 1950m: “Looking for luck from a tough draw.” Race 8: KOWHAI MONARCH (18, Samantha Ottley), UR 1, …
Monbet seventh trotter to take top honour
TOP TROTTER MONBET VOTED NZ HARNESS HORSE OF THE YEAR Brilliant squaregaiter Monbet has become only the seventh trotter to achieve NZ Harness Horse Of The Year honours. Monbet, winner of seven Group Ones in the 2015-16 season for Woodend trainers, Greg and Nina Hope, overshadowed brilliant 4YO pacer Have Faith In Me for the top honour, by 15 votes to 12. Monbet won 11 of 12 NZ starts during his 4YO season, taking his seasonal earnings to $387,521 with an easy end of season victory in the 4YO Jewels at Cambridge on June 4 in 1:56.6 (1609m). He follows …
HRNZ ratings system starts next week
RATINGS SYSTEM TO DEBUT ON AUGUST 4 Media Release Thursday July 28, 2016 Thursday August 4 will be the first meeting in the trial of a Ratings System in harness racing. Following a robust process that identified four critical areas that needed review, a Ratings system has been developed to trial in the hope to improve the position of harness racing and create a more fluid, competitive and vibrant racing environment in the North Island. The three-month trial was approved by the HRNZ Board in June following the development of the Ratings concept. Four key areas were identified where harness …
Addington stakes increase
ADDINGTON STAKES INCREASE After another satisfying financial performance in the 2015-2016 harness racing season, Addington is pleased to announce that total stakes and bonuses are set to rise over $400,000 for the upcoming 2016-2017 season to $8.1 million. New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Chair Barry Dent comments: “A cornerstone of our current business model is to ensure regular and sustainable increases in returns to stakeholders are made whenever possible and with the last financial year being another good one for the Club we are pleased to be able to again reaffirm this approach for the upcoming 2016-2017 racing season.” He …
Whittaker out for three weeks
PROMISING WHITTAKER SPELLING FOR THREE WEEKS Whittaker, a bold runner-up to Pacing Major in the Australasian Breeders Crown 2YO Heat at Addington last week, has been turned out for three weeks. Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones would have raced him again this week in his final week as 2YO but there was no suitable race for him, despite two days of racing at Addington. Some consideration was given to continuing with a Breeders Crown tilt next month, but Gold Coast owner Greg Brodie preferred the option of targeting Sires Stakes racing with him in the spring. “I’m not a fan …