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New York Minute brings up win 250 for Arna

After three placings, from three runners earlier in the night, I came close to thinking I'd have to wait a bit longer for win number 250.  Clearly New York Minute had other ideas.  After stepping like a toff from the 20 metre mark it looked his race to lose.  With the pace on from the get go I knew a lap from home that he'd have too much speed and come over the top of them.   Once again, it was a copybook drive by David Butcher when he ducked into the passing lane as the...

Race previews

Race 2 @ 6.33 pm - #11 Aflyin Spur We kick off the night with the in form Aflyin Spur.  Following his win last week he's gone back 10 metres but given it's 2700 he's got plenty of time to make up the ground.  He'd have to be a leading contender. Race 3 @ 7.02 pm - #9 Perfect BetThis royally bred filly is making her debut.  She's had 3 workouts and progressed nicely with each one.  One on the second row is perfect first up.  With the right run through, I'd like ...

Kango the King!

One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal sums up Kango's win in the Group 2 Superstars Championship. This race was always a hit and run mission and during the week I knew he was right in the zone.  His coat, his work and his demeanor all led me to believe he'd give this race a decent shake. A masterful drive by the man himself to overwork Cranbourne then take a sit proved the winning of the race.  The home stretch tussle saw Kango come out on top.   The overall time and ...

Two favourites and two impressive victories

As the saying goes, sometimes it's blood, sweat and tears.  Tonight at Cambridge was one of those moments.  As race 6 was scoring up behind the mobile, I was praying that we would see the real Taipo, and we sure did.  After letting them do the business early, Zev Meredith picked the perfect time to move.  To see this horse back in winning form and draw away like he did was pretty special.  ...

Countdown to Country Cups championship

6 April 2022 , NewsThere are just two more qualifying races left for the $100,000 Country Cups championship final at Addington on April 16 - and they are both on this weekend.The Winton Cup (3.39pm) is the penultimate event on Saturday, followed by the Mt Hutt Cup (3.13pm) at Methven on Sunday and it will be the last chance for several contenders to make the field.Winton is a Gold status race meaning there are more points for the top four (10-5-3-2) while Methven is Silver (7-4-2-1). The to...

Race previews

Race 6 @ 7.38 pm - #3 Wild Card & #6 Taipo We start with Wild Card who has a very tidy draw to contend with.  He didn't really get the chance to get into it last start over the sprint distance.  It's a small field and I believe he's up to them.  I think he's a very tidy each way chance. Moving onto Taipo.  Well we're back to the mobile after he missed away both days at Palmy.  This bloke has been a real head scratcher lately.  On his best form he's a very ...

Trots talk: Greg catches up with Arna Donnelly

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Donnelly trio ready for Canterbury Raid

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskRough And Ready secured his place in the $100,000 Country Cups Final with a gutsy win in the City Of Palmerston North Festival Cup (2500m) at Manawatu Raceway on Thursday.The five-year-old gelding was headed down the home straight by stablemate Bad Medicine, but he showed his tenacity to fight back to claim a head victory and bragging rights over his barn mate.The result gave trainer Arna Donnelly a boost of confidence with the pair as they continue their way so...

Rough And Ready right in contention for the Country Championship

Manawatu Raceway is fast becoming a favourite stomping ground for Rough And Ready.   On Thursday night he notched up his third consecutive win when taking out the City Of Palmerston North Festival Cup.  It was a perfectly executed drive by one of the best in the business - David Butcher. Stablemate Bad Medicine was game in defeat and has recently shown in can step up to the big time.  Its certainly no disgrace getting beaten a head by a horse as good as Rough And Re...

Kango books his ticket to Christchurch for the Superstars Championship

Being three and four wide didn't stop Kango putting paid to the opposition in what was his first run in 3 weeks. After starting off 35 metres, he was the first to make a move.  His opponents had him close in their sights and they weren't going to let him away with an easy last 800.  He was off the track until DJB ducked in for a breather around the final bend. When he peeled he really knuckled down and sprinted hard.   With open class racing thin on the ground over the next m...

Another Cup for Rough And Ready

In the space of a week Rough And Ready has put two cups on the mantelpiece.  After picking up the Waikato Cup he headed to Palmerston North to contend the Manawatu Cup.  Following a smart beginning from the 10 metre mark he quickly took the lead off stablemate Bad Medicine. He looked the winner a long way from home and cruised away to win by 3 ¾ lengths untouched.     The win pushed him right into contention for the Country Championship which replaces the...

Donnelly doubles up at Cambridge

By Joshua Smith, Harness News DeskIt was a night of doubles for Arna Donnelly at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night.The local horsewoman secured a quinella in the Waikato Cup (2700m) before she doubled up a race later, getting another quinella in The Race 14th April Mobile Pace (2200m).Rough And Ready led home the stable quinella in the Waikato Cup after a positive drive from David Butcher who took luck out of the equation when he sent his charge forward to the lead with two laps to go.He was a...

We'll settle for two winners and a host of placings

Rough And Ready has been a real keeper for the stable having now won 9 races. It was always going to be hard for the horses off handicaps when this guy rolled along even then dropped a quick last 800m. I was rapt to see him back in winning form....

The run continues with 3 winners on our home turf

It was another great night at the office when we bagged 3 winners and a quinella.  ...

Donnelly's success on and off the track

Harness Racing New ZealandThings are happening in fours for Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly right now. Last Friday she had four winners at a race meeting - for just the second time in her career - and this week she's bought at least three, and probably, four yearlings at the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.Already secured are three colts, to Rock N Roll Heaven, Art Major and Bettor's Delight, with negotiations well advanced for a fourth purchase as well."The Miss Elsie one is the stand out," she...

The cheque book was out at the yearling sales

Arna didn’t miss a beat at the National Standardbred Yearling Sales.  ...

Four wins at Cambridge

On a wet humid night with 14 horses racing, you’d have to think something would go right and it sure did. By the conclusion of the race meeting we had notched up four wins and three seconds including a quinella!...

Harness racing driver Alicia Harrison lucky to be alive after crash

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News DeskLeading junior driver Alicia Harrison says she’s lucky to be alive, but faces months away from the racetrack, after being involved in a head-on crash near Cambridge on Saturday afternoon.“It was very scary,” says Harrison from her bed at Waikato Hospital, “one minute we are having a great time, the next minute we could have all been dead,” Harrison was travelling in a car with three friends when they were struck by a ute travelling south, near Ta...

Kango Steels The Show in the Franklin Cup

There couldn’t have been a better way to end 2021 when Kango took out the Group 2 Franklin Cup.   The further they went the more I thought this isn’t going to end well, but David Butcher clearly wasn’t fazed. After an early tussle with Steel The Show, Kango found the lead however he didn’t get a breather after this. A couple of mid-race dabs clearly weren’t enough to take the sting out of the big boy.  As they turned for home my original thoughts of horror were...