NEW $40,000 PGG WRIGHSTON HARNESS ‘5000’, JANUARY 30 NZMTC – Friday January 30, 2015 (Press release, December 19, 2014) This is a totally new concept for the harness racing industry. Harness 5000 is a race limited to the progeny of sire’s who stood at an advertised fee of $5000 or less (see guideline list below of eligible Pacing Sires). Eligibility is for those 3YO pacers who were nominated for the NZ Sires’ Stakes #31 as foals or the NZ Yearling Sales Series #23. Where any horse was not nominated, if their sire was nominated for Sires’ Stakes a late entry …
Rockin Cullen bows out on winning note
ROCKIN CULLEN ENDS RACE CAREER ON HIGH Rockin Cullen ended up her race career on a high by taking out the $9915 Stunin Cullen Sprint Series Final over 1200m at Forbury on Thursday, December 17. The 5YO daughter of Christian Cullen and Idancedallnight, racing in foal to top sire Bettor’s Delight, justified her favouritism from the two gate in the hands of Kimberly Butt. She had enough gate speed to cross Sunnivue Bay Boy and after being pressured by Canderel from the 800m, Rockin Cullen kept finding enough to hold strong late finisher Alexy by a head, with Sicilian Secret …
NZ METRO TC, Dec. 19 & WAIRIO TC, Dec 20.
NZ METRO TC, Friday, December 19 Race 2: PERISSA (13, Mark), mob. 1950m: “She is doing a good job but this is a step up and is drawn bad.” Race 3: GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME (9, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “She should have won at Forbury. She’s drawn bad here so will need luck but can still be right there.” Race 4: KOWHAI SUNRISE (1, Michelle Neilson) & ASTRAPI (4, Mark), mob. 1950m: “Kowhai Sunrise went ok last week and is drawn to be a chance if she does things right.” “Astrapi is a hard horse to follow and looking for luck.” Race …
FORBURY PARK TC, Wednesday, December 17
FORBURY PARK TC, Wednesday, December 17 Race 6: ROCKIN CULLEN (2, Kimberly Butt) & EASTBURN MARA (7, Michelle Neilson), mob. 1200m: “Rockin Cullen is having her last run before becoming a mum. She has the right draw for the 1200m trip. She should be pretty hard to beat.” “Eastburn Mara went good again in last week’s heat and will be improved with that run but will need a bit of luck from the wide draw.” Race 10: TUXEDO MAX (7, Michelle Neilson), mob. 2200m: “He’s racing good and should improve on his first-up run and be a strong each-way chance.”
NZ METRO TC, Dec. 13, AKAROA TC, Dec. 14
NZ METRO TC, Saturday, December 13 Race 1: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (7, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “Good race for him so an upset chance.” Race 3: BETTOR LUCK (8, Michelle Neilson), mob. 2600m: “First-up and one of David Pearce’s. Is getting ready for the Coast so looking for luck.” Race 7: ZAKSPATROL (7, Kimberly Butt), mob. 1950m: “Drawn wide but is going on fresh side so could be a value place bet.” AKAROA TC, Sunday, December 14 Race 10: PERISSA (12, Kimberly Butt), mob. 2000m: “Racing good but drawn bad but still a good each-way chance.” Outside drive Race 7: …
NZ METRO TC, Dec. 11 & FORBURY PARK TC, Dec. 12
NZ METRO TC, Thursday, December 11 Race 5: KOWHAI SUNRISE (5, Mark), mob. 1950m: “She is fresh up and will need the run but won’t be far away if she does things right.” Race 8: MARITIME ARDEN (5, Michelle Neilson) & CHAMPAGNE DREAMS (11, Ricky May), mob. 1950m: “Maritime Arden is drawn good and with luck is a chance again.” “I was rapt with Champagne Dreams at her last start. If she gets the right run she will be very hard to beat.” Outside drive Race 6: VALOR LUSTRE (5), mob. 2600m: “Will be looking for luck in a C0-C2 …
INVERCARGILL TC, Dec 5 & METHVEN TC, Dec 7
INVERCARGILL HRC, Friday, December 5 Race 4: TWICE THE DELIGHT (4, Craig Ferguson), mob. 2200m: “She fought on in a tougher field last week at Addington. Hopefully she’ll be a strong each-way chance.” METHVEN TC, Sunday, December 7 Race 7: ASTRAPI (11, Mark), 1, 10m, 2400m std: “Will be a chance if he trots.”
Goodness Gracious Me nears race pitch
GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME FORWARD IN WORKOUT Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has capable mare Goodness Gracious Me warming up for the summer circuit. Goodness Gracious Me, first-up since July, ran Willow close at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, December 3. The 4YO Christian Cullen mare is the winner of four from 23 starts, but reverts to the C2 grade with dropback age group concessions. She trailed three back for Mark behind the Allstars stablemates Willow and Linda Lovegrace in the C2-4 mobile heat on Wednesday. Goodness Gracious Me may have headed Willow in the run home before the latter kicked …
Eyre I Come having two weeks off
EYRE I COME FRESHENED AFTER MINOR SETBACK Promising Overport Lodge squaregaiter Eyre I Come is having two weeks off after a minor paddock incident ruled him out of racing last weekend. “When I went out to get him on the morning of the race I found him caught in a fence,” said trainer Mark Jones. “He was ok the next day. I probably could have started him but it wasn’t worth taking any risks.” Mark will target the $25,000 Four & Five-Year-Old Trotting Championship at Addington on March 20 with the impressive NZ Cup day intermediate trot winner. Eyre I …
GERALDINE TC, Saturday, November 29
GERALDINE TC, Saturday, November 29 Race 4: EYRE I COME (16, Blair Orange), UR 1, 20m, 2500m std: “Nice horse in the making. Will be hard off 20m and having his first start on grass but on ability is the horse to beat.” Race 6: PERISSA (1! Kimberly Butt), mob. 1850m: “Top effort first-up for us and from one should take a bit of beating.” Race 7: ZAKSPATROL (16, Blair Orange), 8, 10m, 2500m std: “Is racing a notch below his best and will be hard coming off 10 metres.” Race 11: FAIR DINKUM BROMAC (8, Blair Orange), 6, 10m, 2500m std: “He’s …