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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

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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...

Race previews

Race 2 @ 5.57 pm - #10 Perfect BetIt was a great effort in the Sires Stakes race last week and on paper it's a big drop in grade.  While she has a second row draw to overcome, it's not a big field.  She'd have to be a lovely each way player. Race 6 @ 7.55 pm - #11 Aflyin SpurYes he has a big handicap but he is a smart horse.  I do think he's well over the odds at $12 and $3.50.  I see him as a top three contender. Race 8 @ 8.54 pm - #5 KangoWell the big one of ...

New York Minute ploughs through the slush

On a cold slushy night New York Minute brought up his third win for the season while at the same time picking up his first victory at Northern Headquarters (Alexandra Park).  The win was sweetened by the fact it was penalty free as he was reigned by junior claim driver Zev Meredith. Conditions were testing with Zev reporting he had limited visibility.  Horses were struggling but not New York Minute who was in for the fight.  After going head to head outside the hot pot from t...

Race previews

Race 6 @ 8.02 pm - #6 Perfect BetWe've stepped outside the square and elected to line up in the Sires Stakes race.  On paper the two horses drawn wide look to get in well.  With the right run into it she's one to cover in trifecta/first four combinations. Race 9 @ 9.26 pm - #11 New York MinuteOff his handicap he didn't get a chance to get into the race last week.  He meets a tidy field with some handy up and comers but with luck he can feature.  From the draw, ...

Donnelly's race by race rundown for Cambridge

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Race previews

Race 4 @ 6.24 pm - #1 Rubble & #5 Perfect BetRubble makes his debut for the stable following two handy workouts.  He's a nice maiden who will definitely benefit from the outing.  He has the perfect draw so I don't expect him to be far away when the whips are cracking. Our second runner Perfect Bet got a bit lost last start at Alexandra Park but put in a very handy performance all the same.  She's a progressive filly who has trained on nicely since.  I see ...

He really is low flyin

Not many young trotters have a form line which reads 151211331 especially one that has taken a while to put it together.   There's never been any doubt that Aflyin Spur was destined to make it.  Right from a 2 year old he showed he had a motor.  At times he just didn't have the manners to match it.  It's taken miles and plenty of patience to get him to where he is today and now the rewards are coming in spades. While all his wins have been very impressive, his lates...

Race previews

Race 5 @ 7.28 pm - #9 Aflyin SpurHe's racing super and even from his 30 metre handicap over the shorter distance I'm sure he'll give a great sight.  He'd have to be a lovely each way player. Race 6 @ 7.53 pm - #8 New York MinuteThis guy slides in well being a 9 race winner however, barrier 8 means it won't be easy.  Let's hope he can get some luck and break the Alexandra Park hoodoo.  I'd like to think he's a top two contender....

Outlaw Man breaks sixteen month drought

Sometimes it's a long time between drinks as has been the case for Outlaw Man.  However, there have been a number of reasons as to why its taken him a while to find his way back into the winners circle. "There was just something not right with him" said Donnelly.  "We completed extensive veterinary examinations including scintigraphy which showed a few niggly problems that we're now on top of". The rehabilitation process and time that Outlaw Man needed meant he spent more tim...

Harrison enjoying being back

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskAlicia Harrison enjoyed being back doing what she loves at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday – driving winners.The local horsewoman was involved in a horrific car accident in January when she was on her way to the Karaka Million race meeting at Ellerslie, which left her bed-ridden for several weeks after suffering a broken sternum and ankle.“It was extremely scary,” Harrison said.“We were driving up to the Karaka Million and there was a guy in a ute on the w...

Race previews

Race 6 @ 7.33 pm - #8 Aflyin SpurThis bloke is really putting it together now and showing his true worth.  While 35 metres over 2200 makes it a tough ask, I still think he's a tidy prospect.   Race 7 @ 8.01 pm - #4 Wild CardIt's a big drop in grade for him as last start he had to race Taipo.  The Mike Berger runner looks awfully hard to beat but from his draw I'd like to think he's a top three contender....

Kango on song

Alexandra Park Facebook Arna Donnelly is aiming for her first Group One success when she lines up Kango in this week's Dawson Harford Limited 2022 NZ Messenger mobile pace. Kango is heading into Friday night's assignment in hot form, recently taking out the Coca Cola Superstars Championship FFA at group two level.  "The Superstars at Addington was a hit and run mission which we successfully pulled off.  A superb David Butcher drive and a great effort by the horse." an elated Donne...

Race previews

Race 10 @ 10.00 pm - #3 Outlaw ManHis work and the way he's improved with each race suggests he's not far away.  Having said this, it's going to be a tough ask as there are 2 or 3 smart horses drawn outside him.  He's a trifecta/first four chance....

Country Championship | Arna Donnelly

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Bruce Brodie now laughing all the way to the bank

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