Back to Blog

Travel plans best pointer to chances

NZ Herald Kango - Travel plans best pointer to chances...

Race previews

Race 3 @ 6.12 pm - #6 Aflyin Spur After being so consistent he had an uncharacteristic gallop last week so I've put the half hopples back on.  He can make amends, so don't let him go. Race 4 @ 6.37 pm - #1 Pacing HopeShe didn't manage to find any luck last start but still got home nicely.  There are a few in form horses on the second row so let's hope she can make the most of a perfect barrier draw. Race 5 @ 7.06 pm - #6 CrusaderI was rapt with his first up performa...

Taipo finds his form of old

Trainer Arna Donnelly breathed a sigh of relief when Taipo crossed the line first at Alexandra Park on Thursday night. "It was great to see him back to his best" said Donnelly.  "Up until recently 2022 hadn't been his year.  For one reason or another a number of things went wrong.  After his impressive win at Cambridge in April we decided to give him a good spell and it seems to have worked the oracle. "I knew when he stepped well and found the front he'd take some pegging ba...

Kango starts his march toward the New Zealand Cup

https://harnesslink.com/new-ze... ...

Race previews

Race 4 @ 6.40 pm - #14 Pacing Hope She ran on nicely last week at Cambridge without a lot going her way.  Barrier 14 in a big field makes it a tough ask.  Let's hope she can find plenty of luck on the way home. Race 6 @ 7.31 pm - #9 Aflyin Spur This guy is racing super and his last two starts show he's gone to another level.  Once again, he's a lovely each way contender. Race 7 @ 7.56 pm - #3 Perfect Bet & #10 Crusader  We start with Perfect Bet who m...

Race previews

Race 3 @ 6.11 pm - #6 Rhyme N ReasonShe was super a fortnight ago running a game second.  She won't have to do too much more to be right amongst it - a lovely each way player.Race 6 @ 7.26 pm - #2 Bad Medicine, #7 Wild Card & #8 Memphis TennesseeIt was a big effort from Bad Medicine after sitting parked when they ran 2.38 last week.  Over the sprint distance with a handy draw, he's a top chance with the right run.   Wild Card got home well l...

A Southern campaign looks likely for Aflyin Spur

It’s fair to say Aflyin Spur’s win at Alexandra Park on Thursday night earned him a trip to Christchurch.  After stepping well and settling handy, regular driver Todd Mitchell popped out then quickly slotted into the trail.  Rounding the home turn it looked as though Call Me Trouble had the race in hand.  When the passing lane opened Aflyin Spur really knuckled down and won, drawing away in the final stages.    Donnelly has been quietly considerin...

Race previews

Race 2 @ 6.01 pm - #2 Glenthorne, #4 Bad Medicine & #6 Wild CardWe have half the field in this race so let's hope we can get some of the spoils. We start with Glenthorne who's drawn perfectly at barrier two.  He's back on a fresh campaign after one workout so whatever he does he'll improve on.  His gate speed makes him one worth covering in minor combinations. Bad Medicine has been racing super against tightly assessed runners.  There are two very smart 3 ...

Race previews

Race 1 @ 6.01 pm - #2 Pacing HopeShe finally got her day in the sun last start and gets into a similar field again.  From her handy draw she won't have to do much extra.  On exposed form she looks a tidy place chance. Race 3 @ 6.51 pm - #5 Rhyme N ReasonThis filly is making her debut after qualifying on her own six weeks ago.  We've given her a couple of maiden workouts and she progressed nicely with each outing.  I'm hoping she gets a cosy run and we see her finishing t...

ADHR yearling sale purchases heading in the right direction

Our purchases from the 2022 National Standardbred Yearling Sale have just finished their second preparation and we're very happy with their progress. Here they are being worked in groups of 2 behind our galloping pacemaker. Heat 1 1.  Cracker Rock (Rock N Roll Heaven - Smiles For Miles)2.  Beta Prepare (Bettor's Delight - Running On Faith)   Heat 2 3.  Le Major (Art Major - Le Girl)4.  Major Major (Art Major - Miss Elsie)...

Race previews

Race 7 @ 8.10 pm - #6 Rough And Ready, #7 New York Minute & #8 Memphis Tennessee Rough And Ready never got a chance to get into the race last start.  We're shooting for a penalty free win and if the breaks go his way he won't be far off the honey pot. You can never leave New York Minute out of it, he's the ultimate tradesman.  I see him as a lovely each way contender. I've been very happy with Memphis Tennessee's workouts week on week.  I'm expecting ...

Race previews

Race 6 @ 8.11 pm - #6 Bad Medicine & #7 Wild Card We see the Donnelly/Phelan combination reunited here with Bad Medicine.  He was super last week running a game second on a hot pace.  There are a couple of nice horses drawn inside him so I'd sway towards him being more of a place chance. Wild Card was just as impressive getting home late in the piece.  With luck on his side he won't be too far away.  He's definitely one to cover in combinations. Race 8&nbs...

Race previews

Race 5 @ 7.41 pm - #2 Pacing Hope She looks well placed to get an economical run from her handy barrier.  I'd like to think she can finish right amongst it if the breaks go her way. Race 7 @ 8.36 pm - #9 Bad Medicine & #11 Wild CardIt was a big jump in grade for Bad Medicine last start but he acquitted himself well.  He'll need luck from one on the second row, but he's definitely worth covering in combinations The draw makes it tough for Wild Card but give...

Race previews

Race 7 @ 8.18 pm - #8 New York Minute & #9 Rough And ReadyWe have a strong hand in the handicap pace with two tidy chances.  New York Minute got home nicely at Alexandra Park last week from his back mark.  He loves his home track and gets into the race well.  I see him as a strong winning chance. Rough And Ready has benefited from a couple of races and on exposed form he looks well placed too.  Like New York Minute his course stats are very strong.  H...

Race previews

Race 1 @ 5.55 pm - #8 Pacing Hope She meets a very moderate line up but does have a wide draw to overcome.  With luck, she's a top three or four contender. Race 5 @ 7.50 pm - #4 Perfect BetThere are a couple of tidy horses in this race however, they have to start from the second row.  I'd like to think DJB will make the most of her favourable barrier.  I see her as a place prospect. Race 7 @ 8.49 pm - #1 Bad Medicine, #6 Wild Card, # 10 New York Minute & #11 Rough A...

Race previews

Race 5 @ 7.05 pm - #2 Pacing HopeShe was game last week in what was a very quick 1700 metre race.  From her handy draw she's one to cover in quinella/trifecta combinations. Race 7@ 7.55 pm - #10 New York Minute & #11 Rough And ReadyWe start with New York Minute who has been racing super without a lot of luck.  He faces a 30 metre handicap but with a clean getaway he'd have to be a tidy each way player. Rough And Ready hasn't raced for nearly three months but he did ...

Race previews

Race 1 @ 6.22 pm - #1 Pacing HopeOver the sprint trip from the one draw she comes right into contention.  She'll hold her own early, which means she'd have to be a tidy first three player. Race 5 @ 8.04 pm - #10 Perfect BetShe steps up to the next grade and faces a second row draw.  Having said this, I think the rise in class will suit as the pace will be on.  I see her as one to cover in combinations. Race 7 @ 8.54 pm - #6 Bad Medicine & #8 Wild CardThese two ...

Race previews

Race 7 @ 7.58 pm - #4 Bad Medicine & #6 Wild Card We start with Bad Medicine.  While his work has been super, he hasn't raced for over 9 weeks so will definitely benefit from the outing.  He always gives a good account of himself, so with an economical run I see him as a tidy place chance. There are a few off the front that can step and run so being off the back mark will make it hard for Wild Card.  He's racing great and is up to this class of horse so can cer...

Regally bred filly picks up her first win

Perfect Bet broke her maiden status at Alexandra Park on Thursday night in what was her sixth start.  When she rolled to the top at the 1300 metre mark the camp were quietly confident that she'd live up to her name.After some very encouraging runs, it looked her race to lose.  She was backed in from $3.00 at opening, to $2.30 and never gave punters any cause for concern as she turned for home."I thought if she found the front and ran them even she'd be very hard to beat" said Donn...

Race previews

Race 3 @ 6.37 pm - #3 Perfect Bet While it might look like she had her chance last week, she came again and fought right to the wire.  I'd like to think she can head to the front and roll them even.  If this transpires, she'll be hard to peg back. Race 7 @ 8.17 pm - #4 Bad Medicine & #9 New York MinuteBad Medicine is back after a freshen up and one workout.  He ran a very nice last 800 on Saturday but whatever he does he'll improve on.  He's one to cover in min...

Donnelly sounds a warning ahead of big night out in Auckland

...

Race previews

Race 2 @ 7.00 pm - #10 Perfect BetAll her races have been full of merit.  While she has a second row draw to overcome, I do believe she'll be able to do a bit of work in the running.  She's not far away from her day in the sun so keep her close in your sights tomorrow. Race 5 @ 8.24 pm - #7 Aflyin SpurThis horse is racing super and he finally gets in well off the 20 metres.  I think he's extremely over the odds at $10 and $3.  I see him as a lovely each way chance.&...

Win four for Wild Card

Once again it was a David Butcher special which saw Wild Card bring up win number four at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night. After stepping well off the 10 metre mark he settled handy before heading to the top.  From here he kept up an even tempo before dropping a quick last 800. If breeding is anything to go by he has stacks on his side being by American Ideal out of the good producer Cathy's Flybye. "Dad and Sue purchased him as a yearling and it's fair to say they've been very patient.&n...

Change of pace and venue for Donnelly

3 June 2022  By Michael Guerin Just because trainer Arna Donnelly has arrived in harness racing’s big time doesn’t mean she is turning her back on the smaller fare on offer at Cambridge tonight.The first half of the pacing open class season reached its zenith with the Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park last Friday and that meant a new career high for Donnelly as Kango stormed into third in the $400,000 feature.It capped a great campaign for the big pacer and gives Donnelly a serious open cl...

Race previews

Race 2 @ 5.57 pm - #4 Nemo BandeiraHe's had two recent workouts and I was quite happy with his latest effort.  On paper it looks like a moderate line up.  I'd like to think he can find his way into the first four. Race 4 @ 6.53 pm - #4 Pacing Hope Both her workouts this time back have been full of merit.  She won't have to go much better than she did on Saturday to be right amongst it.   Race 9 @ 9.14 pm - #2 Wild Card & #8 New York MinuteWild Card ge...