Harness Scene

CAMBRIDGE TO HOST JEWELS AGAIN IN 2010

Following their extremely successful Harness Jewels meeting at Queen’s Birthday Weekend, the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club is delighted with last week’s decision by the Harness Racing Executive to award Cambridge the prestigious event again in 2010. The Jewels concept is that the event will be rotated between the North and South Islands on an annual basis with the idea that it will place more emphasis on being a community raceday away from the big city tracks. The inaugural event was held at Ashburton last year, and they will host it again in 2009. Cambridge-TeAwamutu club president, Barry Gordon said, “Getting the Jewels again in 2010 is recognition of the hard work and team effort put in by all those involved this year. The club is pushing ahead to have the plans for a new stable block completed in time for the event”.

PETER FERGUSON SELECTED TO ATTEND WORLD DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Cambridge reinsman, Peter Ferguson was delighted with the news yesterday that he has been chosen to represent New Zealand at the world driving championships in Norway in May next year. HRNZ manager Edward Renell said Ferguson’s selection recognized, as well as his driving ability, the commitment Peter had made in all areas of the harness industry. Peter is president of the North Island branch of the Horsemans’ Association, and a member of its national executive. He is also very involved with the Kidz Kartz programme, amateur driving and education and training programmes.

RAY O’CONNOR RE-ELECTED TO HARNESS EXCECUTIVE

Cambridge/TeAwamutu Harness Racing Club committee man and past president, Ray O’Connor, has been re-elected to the executive of Harness Racing New Zealand. Ray has been a member of the board since 1999 and currently serves in the capacity of treasurer. He has also been for the last two and a half years, harness racing’s representative to the New Zealand Racing Board, the government appointed, controlling body of the three racing codes, thoroughbred, harness, and greyhounds.

HARNESS JEWELS 2008 AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS

Harness Jewels Day 2008, at Cambridge Raceway last Saturday was an unprecedented success. It had all the components needed for a great day’s racing – good weather, an extremely good venue, with a perfectly prepared track surface which saw national records broken, top racehorses and thrilling racing. Along with good, well organized facilities, great food and entertainment, not too long a wait for a bet or a beer, and a very large enthusiastic crowd it all made for a memorable day.

The day went off without a hitch and feedback received from those who attended was without exception, positive. The Cambridge/Te Awamutu Harness Racing Committee are also very pleased with the positive feedback received from both Harness Racing New Zealand, who determine and oversee the format of the day, and the New Zealand Racing Board.

The concept of the Harness Jewels has been embraced by owners, trainers and the public alike and has already established itself as one of the highlights of the harness racing calendar. Next year the Jewels will return to Ashburton who set the benchmark for the event with the inaugural meeting. Cambridge has met that challenge resoundingly and look forward to receiving the opportunity to host the Jewels in 2010.

SHOCK SCRATCHING OF AUCKLAND REACTOR

HRNZ have been advised that due to injury, pin-up colt Auckland Reactor is out of the 2008 GCT Harness Jewels. This shock scratching has lead the way for James Ryan to step-up at race from the coveted barrier one position. With the loss of Auckland Reactor the field evens out with a number of horses capable of taking home the 3YO Emerald.

Auckland Reactor has fallen victim to what appears to be a neurological problem stemming from his back. The unconfirmed diagnosis is based on the horse's lack of co-ordination in his hind quarters whilst in work.

The condition did flare up over the weekend and as a result was monitored closely. It had appeared to have worsened slightly this morning (Monday). Resulting in Mark Purdon scratching Auckland Reactor with Cambridge Raceway officials before 10am this morning.

Trainer Mark Purdon reports Auckland Reactor, "is well within himself, eating well and just on Friday his blood tested perfectly".

Auckland Reactor is in no discomfort but is obviously suffering from an obscure problem that Christchurch-based vet Bill Bishop will endeavour to confirm and treat upon the horse's return to Christchurch next week.

Fiery Falcon is now at $1.90 for the 3YO Emerald on Saturday.

Other scratchings are Mr. Ricky and Cast Adrift from the 4YO Emerald, leaving the field down to just eleven runners and Myouri who was scratched on Friday from the 2YO Emerald, paving the way for Aslan to take his spot.

ATMOSPHERE BUILDS TOWARDS SATURDAYS HARNESS JEWELS

If the atmosphere around the track at Saturday morning’s workouts at Cambridge Raceway is anything to go by, then next Saturday’s Harness Jewels Meeting is set to be an amazing day’s racing.

Twenty three of the horses who will race that day were at the track for a preparation run, including the big names of Changeover, Gotta Go Cullen, One Dream, and Sovereignty. The weather was clear and warm, and hopefully that will be the case this Saturday, when the best of the best in the two to four age group, will meet in what will be nine extremely competitive and speedy mile races. Trainers and drivers who raced on Saturday spoke highly of the condition of the track which is one of, if not the best and fastest, harness racing surfaces in New Zealand.

In the two year old trotters mobile, Outmuscle, driven by caretaker trainer Sean Mc Caffrey, after being handy in the running throughout the race, made a very impressive sprint up the inside in the straight to take the heat in 2.51.2, with the last 800 in 60.5 and the last 400 in 29.9. He finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Kevin Townley with Dream Machine, with ½ length back to Castletonian.

In the two year old fillies mobile pace over 1700metres, Arden Banner led out fast from World of Dreams who took the trail. The two fillies did battle in the straight with Arden Banner taking the heat by a nose in 2.04.7, the last 800 in 57.7, the last 400 in 29.3. An extremely good run by both these fillies, with Beaudiene Bad Babe a length away in third place.

In the two to three win pace, Cullens Legacy and David Butcher came home first with Flyin Cullen ½ length away and in third place Absolute Magic who went to the line under a hold. Time for the heat was 2.46.5, the last 800 in 58.9, the last 400 in 29.3.

Then in the big heat of the morning, Changeover, and Gotta Go Cullen clashed once more, along with Mr Molly, Victory Spirit and the big mare One Dream. Gotta Go Cullen blasted out to the lead from four, Mr Molly settled in the trail, while Changeover sat at the rear. The race continued with the field in Indian file until 800 metres from home, David Butcher pulled Changeover out and worked forward slowly to be two lengths from Gotta Go Cullen at the top of the home straight. Changeover did not gain on him in the straight and at the finish Gotta Go Cullen still held the lead comfortably winning in 2.43.8, the last 800 in 55.9, the last 400 in 27.4. In third place was Mr Molly who lost ground on the home turn but was making it up at the line, and behind him was One Dream finishing on strongly.

Sovereignty led all the way in the up to four win trot over 2200 metres, taking some easy quarters in the middle stages, but then drawing away from the field to run home very easily, four lengths clear in 2.50.4, the last 800 in 58.3, the last 400 in 28.9. Alien Waits put in a very good run for second after pulling hard over the journey. He was having his first run for a month coming back well from an injury problem, and has drawn well in the Jewels field at one. In third place, two lengths back was The Ultimate Galleon.

Trotupastorm started 50 metres behind in his 2700 metre trot, made up ground quickly to lead 1600 metres from home and ran away in the straight with no challengers to win by three lengths in 3.38.9.

There will be another chance to see some of the Jewels contenders on Thursday morning between 7.30am and 9.30am. The Waikato Times “Breakfast With The Stars” will be held in the members lounge, with commentator Aaron White. A hot and cold gourmet breakfast will be served, and beer and wine will be included. Tickets for the event are $25 per person and can be purchased from the raceway office. The gates will be open free for any members of the public who would like to watch the mornings workouts.

TWENTY THREE JEWELS HORSES TO START AT WORKOUTS

A host of equine stars will be put through their paces, a week out from the "Jewels" this Saturday morning at Cambridge. There are no less than 23 Harness Jewels horses having a blow-out on Saturday.

All heats are run over 2200 metres with the first starting at 10am. The first of the stars on the track will be the 2YO trotters in heat 3 including Outmuscle, Going Commando, Dream Machine and Castletonian, followed by the 2YO fillies with Hemisphere, Lauraella, World Of Dreams, Alexis, Arden Banner and Beaudiene Bad Babe appearing in heat 4.

Absolute Magic and Cullen's Legacy will be on show in heat 5, with the big guns Changeover, Gotta Go Cullen, Mr Molly, Victory Spirit and glamour mare One Dream, competing in heat 7. Finally, if all that horsepower wasn't enough, the three and four-year-old trotter's Lady Eskay, Lough Beg, The Ultimate Galleon, Sovereignty, Alien Waits and Trotupastorm will be on track in heats 8 and 10.