Victorian pacer Messini is the second Australian invited to contest New Zealand’s Harness Racing Jewels meeting at Ashburton on May 30.
The Brent Lilley-trained son of Art Major raced in last season’s Jewels last season, before winning the Vicbred Super Series Final, then returning to New Zealand to establish a national 2600-metre mobile record on New Zealand Cup Day.
Messini was formerly trained by Mark Purdon.
“We are thrilled with the invite and the owners are chuffed,” Lilley declared. “He will be the first horse to wear the Aussie colours made for the Jewels.
“We wanted to go to the Jewels, and because he raced so well at the Cup Carnival, he already had some qualifying dollars, but this takes the pressure off.”
The Shane Tritton-trained Salty Robyn was invited to contest the two-year-old Jewels earlier this month.
Harness Racing NZ plans to invite an Australian to contest each of the nine Jewels divisions.
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HRV Media