News

Former star two-year-old Smooth Deal is likely to have one last race in this country before heading across the Tasman.

CHAMPION thoroughbred trainer John Hawkes has always had a passion for harness racing.

Trainer Steven McRae’s team had a near perfect trip to West Coast this weekend, culminating in a winning double at Reefton on Sunday.

Veteran horseman Murray Pash will have his first drive in three years when he hops in the cart behind Jazelle in the Recreation Hotel Inangahua-Grey Valley Cup (2500m) at Reefton on Sunday.

Pembrook Playboy booked his ticket to some of New Zealand’s biggest Group One races with an explosive win in the Northern Southland Trotting Cup at Ascot Park on Saturday.

One of the biggest shocks of the Alexandra Park season wasn’t a shock at all if you ask the man behind it.

Donegal Carrickfin disappointed his connections when breaking at Addington last week, but he more than made up for it at Westport on Friday when demolishing his rivals in the Cosmopolitan Hotel Mobile Pace (2600m) to win by 10 lengths.

A huge day at Ascot Park today and racing journalist Jonny Turner gives us a race by race insight.

All eyes will be on the ping of the standing start tapes as Southland stars U May Cullect and Pembrook Playboy go head to head in Saturday’s Northern Southland Cup.