Latest News

LAURA McKAY NOTCHES SECOND WIN

Overport Lodge junior driver Laura McKay knows how to get the best out of a “Kowhai”- named trotter.

She landed her first win with big trotter Kowhai Whiz at Rangiora last November, then repeated with “Whiz’s” half-brother, Kowhai Monarch at Addington on Thursday, September 15.

Laura McKay, after winning her first race with Kowhai Whiz at Rangiora on Thursday, November 5, 2015.

Kowhai Monarch, well-placed as a C4 trotter in a C2-4 mobile 1950m trot, moved up parked beginning the final lap.

Favourite Jayceekay (Blair Orange) swept to the lead at the 600m and ran clear turning for home, but Kowhai Monarch was well-rated by Laura, knuckling down when asked for a final surge inside the final 100m to win by half a neck.

Kowhai Monarch, a consistent 5YO Monarchy gelding from Surprising, raced by breeders John and Jill Hartnell, has now won five of 30 starts for $35,852.

He recorded the fourth win of the new season for the Mark Jones stable.

Laura had a good night with her two drives behind the straight-out trotters on Thursday, driving them both the same way but both found a good rhythm cutting the breeze in the open.

Her earlier drive Ruthless Success, which she now co-owns, wasn’t fazed by racing parked in the C1 mobile trot, running Cuddly Jess, who sped to the lead at the 2000m, to three-quarters of a length.

MASTER LAVROS OFFICIALLY OUT OF DOMINION

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones has officially confirmed top squaregaiter Master Lavros won’t be ready for November’s Dominion Handicap.

Master Lavros, shown winning his second G1 Dominion last November. Time is against him defending his title this year.

Mark withdrew the giant trotter this week, not wanting to rush his preparation for the Group One 3200m staying test, as the horse comes back from injury last term.

Second withdrawals for the Dominion are due on Wednesday, October 12, at 3pm.

The TAB futures market for the Dominion has Monbet, the reigning Harness Horse Of The Year, a hot $1.70 favourite.

Emerging star Amaretto Sun is the $9.50 second favourite after his decisive win in last week’s Ordeal Trotting Cup.

Established star Stent is the $10 third favourite, with Sheemon at $16, and good racemare, Sunny Ruby and Habibti, equal early fifth favourites at $18.

One Over Da Moon shares the next line of betting at $21, along with Australian entrees, Keystone Del and Glenferrie Typhoon, followed by Alley Way, now trained by Phil Williamson, and Harriet Of Mot, at $26.

Last Sunday’s Oamaru winner Jag’s Invasion, and former Scandanavian trotter Daryl Boko, are at $31, followed by Kyvalley Spur ($41); Harrysul ($51); Arya and Waterloo Sunset ($61); Valmagne and Quite A Moment ($71); Le Reveur ($81); Bordeaux, Monty Python, Paramount Dream and Scarrymcleary ($91); others $100-plus.

The most notable early withdrawal for November’s Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup is the Barry Purdon-trained Hug The Wind.

Early Cup favourite is last season’s Auckland Cup and Miracle Mile winner Have Faith In Me at $3.20, just ahead of stablemate and last season’s top 3YO, Lazarus, at $3.40.

The third favoured All Stars entrant, Smolda, shares the third line of Cup betting at $7.50 with last season’s Easter Cup winner, Locharburn, who resumed with a first-up win over Tiger Tara and Franco Nelson in the Maurice Holmes Vase on September.

Former Horse of the Year Christen Me, now eight, is a $9 chance this year, followed by Franco Nelson and Tiger Tara (both at $13), Titan Banner ($15), Seel The Deal and Philadelphia Man ($26), Messini ($36); Costa Del Magnifico, Didjamakem Bolt and Franco Ledger (a query after the Hannon) at ($41); No Doctor Needed ($51); Cullect A Guinness ($71); Brilliant Strike, Mighty Flying Mac and Quick As A Trick ($81), others $100-plus.

STAN WALKER TO SING NATIONAL ANTHEM ON NZ CUP DAY

Addington Raceway is delighted to announce that Stan Walker will be singing the national anthem ‘A cappella style’ at Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

It will be a powerful performance that is not to be missed!

Stan Walker, celebrity singer for NZ Cup day.

Stan Walker is excited to not only be a part of the most prestigious race day in New Zealand, that is one of the world’s biggest harness racing events, but to sing the national anthem for this time honoured event will be a first.

Stan commented: “I’ve never been to Cup Day at Addington before but, I am stoked to be part of it. See you all there New Zealand.”

This year will be the 113th running of the Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup which attracts thousands of people to Addington Raceway.

This iconic day also includes 11 other spectacular races, the Westfield Riccarton Style Stakes and the ZM Body Art, along with an array of entertainment, including Kiwi band, Salmonella Dub who will be performing on the Lindauer Lawn roof area.

Tickets are now on sale with a maximum of 25,000 tickets that can be sold.

To purchase Cup Week tickets, visit:

Courtesy of Keryn McElroy,

Business & Marketing Manager,

Addington

SMOKE N FIRE EXTENDS RECORD IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Former Overport Lodge filly Smoke N Fire (4m Courage Under Fire-Smoke N Mirrors) notched her third win from four New South Wales starts at Bathurst on Sunday, September 11.

Smoke N Fire, who won twice in NZ for the Mark Jones stable, led up from the two gate for trainer Ashlee Grives (nee Siejka) in the C1-2 Shannon Springs Pace and held in a 1:59.7 rate for the mobile 1720m.

Smoke N Fire, winner of three of her four starts in New South Wales.

Still raced by Canterbury owners, Pete, Debbie and Pat Smith, Smoke N Fire had previously won back-to-back Bathurst races in late July, early August, the quicker in a 1:58.5 rate over 1730m on August 3.

She’s now the winner of five from 17 lifetime for $27,353 in stakes.

Meanwhile, three other ex-Overport Lodge pacers were successful at Shepparton, Victoria, on Sunday, September 11.

Forty Thieves (4g Christian Cullen-Harem Franco) kicked off the day taking out the first heat of the Neatline Homes Pace in a 2:01.9 rate for the 2190.

He won second-up for the Mark Jones stable at Forbury last December and was exported, beginning his Australian racing in Victoria in June. He had been racing consistently but this was his first Australian win in eight starts.

Champagne Dreams (5m Art Major-Bethany), the older half-sister to Lazarus, now racing for the David Aiken stable, led throughout a C1 & faster pace and came clear by 14.3 metres in a 2:02.6 rate (2190m).

A 1:55.6 mile rate winner over 1660m at Albion Park, Brisbane, in April, she was recording back-to-back wins since transferring to Victoria.

She has taken her record to seven wins from 34 starts for just over $40,000.

Louie Finn (5g Grinfromeartoear-Miss C S D), like Champagne Dreams, also won a heat of the C1 and faster TAB Ebt’s On Track @ Shepparton Pace.

He led throughout as a $1.50 favourite and held in a faster 2:00.6 rate for the 2190m.

Louie Finn was also recording back-to-back Victorian wins, having won his previous start at Cobram in a lifetime best 1:55.9 rate over 1670m.

His career record stands at 31 starts for four wins and 10 placings for $27,314 in stakes.

MINIMAL MOVEMENT IN NZ CUP, DOMINION RANKINGS

September 6, 2016

The second round of Official Rankings has seen only minimal movement within both the Christchurch Casino NZ Trotting Cup and Haras des Trotteurs Dominion.

Within The Cup, Locharburn, after his automatic qualifying win in the Maurice Holmes Vase jumps to a mandatory No. 2.

The only other change for The Cup was Franco Nelson edging ahead of Philadelphia Man to No. 9.

The Dominion rankings saw several small changes. Kyvalley Blur’s win at Melton last week moved him to 12th.

(Our) Overanova broke a track record at Albion Park last week when winning so he moved up to one place 19th ahead of Australian counterpart Sun Of Anarchy.

Realmein’s solid second behind One Over Da Moon earned him a jump of four spots to 30, while Tornado Valley pulled himself off the bottom of the rankings by virtue of a strong showing behind the in-form Sunny Ruby on Friday night.

To date there have been three defections from the two features. Itz Bettor To Win and Expresso Martini have come out of The Cup.

Foray has been withdrawn from The Dominion.

This week there are two key races in the ‘Road to The Cup’.

Friday’s Ordeal Trotting Cup at Addington provides a free ticket into the Dominion, while on Sunday, the time-honoured Hannon Memorial will be contested for the 79th time at Oamaru.

Though not an automatic qualifying race, the Hannon provides some lower in the rankings with a potential springboard into the great race.

RANKINGS

1 Have Faith In Me (2015 Auckland Cup winner)

2 Locharburn (2016 Maurice Holmes Vase winner)

3 Smolda

4 Tiger Tara

Top-ranked NZ Cup entrant Have Faith In Me shown winning the Miracle Mile in February in a record 1:47.5, from Lennytheshark (yellow silks).

5 Mossdale Conner

6 Christen Me

7 Messini

8 Lazarus

9 Franco Nelson

10 Philadelphia Man (Vict)

11 Mighty Flying Mac

12 Costa Del Magnifico

13 Hug The Wind

14 Titan Banner

15 Franco Ledger

_________________

Outside cut line: 16 No Doctor Needed, 17 Alleluia,18 Quick As A Trick, 19 Seel The Deal, 20 Cullect A Guinness, 21 Brilliant Strike, 22 Expressive Victor, 23 Didjamakem Bolt, 24 Maverick, 25 Lewy Risk, 26 Idealindiamonds. 27 Moonrock,

Withdrawn: Itz Bettor To Win (Vict), Expresso Martini.

2016 HARAS DES TROTTEURS DOMINION RANKINGS

NZ Metro TC, Friday, November 11

HARAS DES TROTTEURS DOMINION, $260,000, 3200m.

No handicaps apply. Maximum of 15 starters, with provision for three emergencies. A Group 1 Trotting Masters Race.

RANKINGS

Master Lavros, the Overport Lodge-prepared No. 1 ranked squaregaiter for November’s Dominion, by virtue of winning the race for a second time last year.

1 Master Lavros (2015 Dominion Handicap winner)

2 Monbet (2016 Rowe Cup winner)

3 Keystone Del

4 Glenferrie Typhoon

5 Stent

6 Alley Way

7 Valmagne

8 Sheemon

9 One Over Da Moon

10 Habibti

11 Sunny Ruby

12 Kyvalley Blur

13 Jags Invasion

14 Quite A Moment

15 Daryl Boko

_________________

Outside cut-line: 16 Vincennes, 17 Zachary Binx, 18 Harriet Of Mot, 19 Overanova, 20 Sun Of Anarchy, 21 Harrysul, 22 Scarrymcleary, 23 King Denny, 24 Le Reveur, 25 Monty Python, 26 Golden Gate, 27 Paramount Dream, 28 Waterloo Sunset, 29 Amaretto Sun, 30 Realmein, 31 Cool Cobber, 32 Arya, 33 Belles Son, 34 Pegasus Dream, 35 Arran Chief, 36 Bordeaux, 37 My Tribeca, 38 Tornado Valley, 39 Springbank Eden, 40 Quevert,

Withdrawn: Foray.

Courtesy of Stacey Markham, 

Media & Marketing Manager, Harness Racing NZ

ROCKER BAND TO RESUME IN HANNON

Two conditioning Rangiora runs have last season’s Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond winner Rocker Band on song to make her 5YO debut in the Group 3 $25,000 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday, September 11.

Rocker Band was restrained to the rear when resuming at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday August 24 and was only given a quiet outing first-up, making ground late.

The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Mainland Banner returned to the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, August 31, stepping up her preparation.

She ran Lewy Risk, a newcomer to the Brent Borcoskie stable, to a half a head in the C1 and faster mobile pace, with a resuming Art Union four lengths back third.

The winner ran the mobile 2000m in 2:31.5 (2:01.8 mile rate), the leaders sharpening up the speed over their last 800m in 56.2s and final 400m in 27.2s.

Rocker Band was transferred to the mobile heat after the fast class stand start heat was deleted.

She won her first stand start race in the Nelson Cup Prelude in early January after beginning well to take the lead.

She then finished eighth at her only other start from a stand at Blenheim two weeks later after bobbling away for a couple of strides off the 20m line but soon settling into her pacing gait.