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Australian visitor Don Hugo and Oscar Bonavena appear to be the two winners out of today’s draw for Friday’s two big Slot races at Cambridge’s Night of Champions.  Recent Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo has drawn ideally at two for the $1m The Race by betcha with key rivals Leap To Fame getting eight and big Kiwi hope and defending champion Merlin at seven. Both will come in one place if first emergency Mo’unga does not take his place in the field. Multiple Group 1 winner Republican Party is another to have been gifted a good alley. He will start at three, one outside Don Hugo. As the only mare in the race Duchess Megxit has drawn one, with Chase A Dream (9) behind her on the second row. In the $600,000 TAB Trot Oscar Bonavena has drawn perfectly at three after his impressive win in Friday’s Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge. Of his biggest threats Australian star The Locomotive has drawn six, one inside Muscle Mountain. Rising star Bet N Win has drawn one the second line and will follow out Im Ready Jet. The $600,000 TAB Trot will go at 7.49pm on Friday with the $1m The Race by betcha at 8.52pm. The draws were conducted by HRNZ.     View the full article

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) is pleased to announce that the National Bureau will officially be in operation from Monday, April 7, 2025. The Bureau is a significant step forward in streamlining the nomination, acceptance, and field release process for the sport across the country. From this date, all of these functions will be managed through a centralised system overseen by HRNZ, ensuring greater consistency and efficiency. For trainers making nominations and/or withdrawals these should be made via the HRNZ website or app. Race programmes will also be produced directly by HRNZ as part of this transition. Importantly, the current timelines for nominations and acceptances remain unchanged: Nominations close at 12 noon Acceptances close at 2:00pm Both deadlines fall on the same day. A National Bureau Hotline and a specific email account will also be established, with details in coming days.  View the full article

Exactly Gamma....fantastic to bring the best Aussies over to little ole NZ to race v our best. I'm tempted to travel to the night...last year it was great seeing the two 'teams' led down the straight before the test match ! Behind the National flags .....hair raising stuff ! At little ole Cambridge too ! Of course Entain /HRNZ are contributing .Where does Brodie 'always on the money' think the money came from to launch this new strategic plan to rebirth Harness in NZ. Answer ...the money came from Entain ,and 70% of the money has gone to grass roots racing with extra stakes for everyone...across the Board.  Plus monies are held in reserves for the planned events/promotions etc hoping to stimulate things so if Brodie has a good idea then he should forward it to HRNZ for consideration. Cos the slot races ,plus those during Cup week are part of the plan , as is resuscitating the North Island hence Manawatu and Auckland events also feature in trying to excite people . Not easy but they trying ! Every club in NZ receives HRNZ /Entain money so a bit pointless in choosing one meeting to point out how betting doesnt cover stakes and meeting expenses..

Australian Derby favourite, Aeliana. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The three-year-old take centre stage in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a stacked field of 18 set to take their place in the $2 million staying feature. The lone filly Aeliana has been installed as the $3.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers post-barrier draw, with the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) runner-up drawing perfectly in barrier two. Damien Lane is booked to ride the daughter of Castelvecchio as trainer Chris Waller seeks back-to-back wins in the three-year-old classic event. The Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Willydoit makes the trip across the Tasman and is on the second line of betting at , with the Shaun Clotworthy-trained gelding securing barrier 10. Group 2 Alister Clark (2040m) winner Shanwah makes the trip north to Sydney and goes in search of a fifth straight victory, with online betting sites respecting the Melbourne raider on the third line of betting at $7 with . A stack of runners are set to do the four-day backup after running in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), including the third placegetter King Of Thunder, rounding at the chances in single figures at $9 with . The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained gelding is the only running coming through that form line with any early support, with Pocketing ($17) and Firm Agreement ($21) opening at big prices comparatively. There’s plenty of value outside of the leading chances, with the likes of Goldrush Guru ($13) and Plymouth ($15) set to have plenty of admirers leading into the weekend. The 2025 Australian Derby shares top billing with the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and is one of four massive Group 1 races lined up for Day 1 of The Championships. 2025 Australian Derby Final Field 1. Willydoit (10) T: Shaun Clotworthy J: Michael Dee W: 57kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Tarzino (NZ) Dam: Willamette +350 -113.64 2. Goldrush Guru (13) T: Andrew Gluyas J: Ms Jamie Melham W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: American Pharoah (USA) Dam: Glam Guru +1100 +275 3. Thedoctoroflove (14) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Daniel Moor W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Liberty Lover +1400 +350 4. Shanwah (4) T: Ciaron Maher J: Blake Shinn W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB) Dam: Lady Sayyida (NZ) +800 +200 5. Plymouth (3) T: Glen Thompson J: Mark Zahra W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Malfy +1400 +350 6. Pocketing (16) T: Richard & Will Freedman J: Joshua Parr W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Grunt (NZ) Dam: Pickpocket +1400 +350 7. Firm Agreement (6) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Tyler Schiller W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Yes Yes Yes Dam: Money Magic +2500 +625 8. King Of Thunder (1) T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton J: Zac Lloyd W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Tivaci Dam: Sheezababe (NZ) +800 +200 9. Golden Century (15) T: Tony Pike J: Nash Rawiller W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Pierro Dam: Breeze (IRE) +3300 +825 10. Imperialist (22) T: Chris Waller J: Ryan Moore W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Churchill (IRE) Dam: Dancing Hare +3300 +825 11. Mustang Morgan (12) T: Andrew Forsman J: Craig Williams W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Preferment (NZ) Dam: Assertiveobsession +3300 +825 12. Red Aces (18) T: Nick Ryan J: Hugh Bowman W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Cardiac +5000 +1250 13. Confetti Garden (21) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Tommy Berry W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Saxon Warrior (JPN) Dam: Keeva +5000 +1250 14. Tsitsipas (11) T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young J: Not Declared W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Staphanos (JPN) Dam: Lioness (NZ) +5000 +1250 15. Autumn Aroha (5) T: Richard Litt J: Chad Schofield W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Indarra (NZ) +10000 +2500 16. Bernen Win (20) T: John Thompson J: Tom Sherry W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Shooting to Win Dam: Icebern +10000 +2500 17. Kosuke (9) T: Gregory McFarlane J: Ashley Morgan W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: The Autumn Sun Dam: Inchita +20000 +5000 18. Aeliana (2) T: Chris Waller J: Damian Lane W: 54.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Filly Sire: Castelvecchio Dam: Temolie +220 -181.82 19. Flying Argento (23) T: Gary Portelli J: Reece Jones W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: D’argento Dam: Misstiflying +20000 +5000 20. Deal N’ Dash (8) T: Bjorn Baker J: Not Declared W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Kebede +1600 +400 21. Format (7) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Colt Sire: Frankel (GB) Dam: Nechita +5000 +1250 22. So You Are (19) T: Stirling Osland J: Not Declared W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: So You Think (NZ) Dam: Tornado Gal +5000 +1250 23. Black Babylon (17) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Ethan Brown W: 56.5kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Night of Thunder (IRE) Dam: Akhania (GB) +5000 +1250 Horse racing news View the full article

Group 1 Randwick Guineas winner, Linebacker. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au The time-honoured Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) headlines the action for Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 20 set to battle it out for the $4 million prize. The Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker has opened favourite at $6 with horse racing bookmakers after drawing barrier 14, with Zac Lloyd set to continue his association with the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained gelding. Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) winner Tom Kitten sits on the second line of betting at $7 with and appears to get the soft run in transit after securing barrier one on Tuesday evening. Ben Melham is booked to take the reins, with the son of Harry Angel set to lug 55.5kg on his back. The Ciaron Maher-trained pair of Gringotts and Another Wil share the third line of betting at $8 with , with the George Ryder winner set to jump from stall six, while the C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) winner will need to carry top weight (56.5kg) from barrier 18. Punters can get double-figure odds for every other runner engaged in this year’s Doncaster, headed by the second emergency Swiftfalcon at $11 with as he chases a maiden Group 1 success after running third in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) last time out. Some key internationals will have some work to do as well, with Moira ($13) and Geoglyph ($17) drawing out in gates 20 and 24 respectively. The chances don’t end there, with plenty of value runners all over the page as the likes of Royal Patronage ($13), Stefi Magnetica ($15) and Firestorm ($15) representing terrific each-way value with . The 2025 Doncaster Mile is one of four massive Group 1 races scheduled for Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday. 2025 Doncaster Mile Final Field 1. Another Wil (18) T: Ciaron Maher J: Ms Jamie Melham W: 56.5kg Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Arohanui +700 +175 2. Gringotts (6) T: Ciaron Maher J: Tommy Berry W: 55.5kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Per Incanto (USA) Dam: Miss Bluebell (NZ) +700 +175 3. Tom Kitten (1) T: James Cummings J: Ben Melham W: 55.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Harry Angel (IRE) Dam: Transfers +500 +125 4. Geoglyph (24) T: Tetsuya Kimura J: Damian Lane W: 55kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Horse Sire: Drefong (USA) Dam: Aromatico (JPN) +2000 +500 5. Pericles (16) T: James Cummings J: Blake Shinn W: 55kg Age: 5YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Street Boss (USA) Dam: Accessories (GB) +5000 +1250 6. Militarize (7) T: Chris Waller J: Chad Schofield W: 55kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Amerindia (GB) +5000 +1250 7. Royal Patronage (19) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Tim Clark W: 54.5kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Wootton Bassett (GB) Dam: Shaloushka (IRE) +1400 +350 8. Stefi Magnetica (5) T: Bjorn Baker J: Jason Collett W: 54.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: All Too Hard Dam: Mid Summer Music +1600 +400 9. Anisette (20) T: Chris Waller J: Michael Dee W: 54kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Awtaad (IRE) Dam: Tutti Frutti (GB) +5000 +1250 10. Moira (21) T: Chris Waller J: Zac Purton W: 54kg Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Ghostzapper (USA) Dam: Devine Aida (USA) +1400 +350 11. Just Folk (10) T: Gavin Bedggood J: W: 54.5kg Age: 8YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Magnus Dam: Fast Ruby +2500 +625 12. Celestial Legend (11) T: Les Bridge J: Regan Bayliss W: 54kg Age: 4YO Colour: Grey-Bay Sex: Horse Sire: Dundeel (NZ) Dam: Sarraqa +5000 +1250 13. Kovalica (17) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 53.5kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Ocean Park (NZ) Dam: Vitesse (NZ) +2500 +625 14. Port Lockroy (13) T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald J: Craig Williams W: 53.5kg Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Horse Sire: Better Than Ready Dam: Freezethemillions +2500 +625 15. Al Mubhir (4) T: William Haggas J: Andrea Atzeni W: 53kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Frankel (GB) Dam: Muffri’ha (IRE) +2000 +500 16. New Energy (22) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Gibbons W: 52.5kg Age: 6YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: New Bay (GB) Dam: For Joy (GB) +10000 +2500 17. Iowna Merc (15) T: Bjorn Baker J: Ashley Morgan W: 52kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay or Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Winning Rupert Dam: Mercedes +5000 +1250 18. Encap (3) T: Gary Portelli J: Reece Jones W: 51kg Age: 4YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Capitalist Dam: Enquare +2500 +625 19. Firestorm (8) T: Chris Waller J: Jay Ford W: 50kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Satono Aladdin (JPN) Dam: Dancing Embers (NZ) +1200 +300 20. Linebacker (14) T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton J: Zac Lloyd W: 49kg Age: 3YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Super Seth Dam: Garden of Swans (GB) +500 +125 21. Rise At Dawn (2) T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes J: Karis Teetan W: 51kg Age: 4YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Gelding Sire: Almanzor (FR) Dam: Kay’s Awake (NZ) +5000 +1250 22. Swiftfalcon (12) T: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes J: Tyler Schiller W: 49kg Age: 3YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Exceedance Dam: Tempting Delight +800 +200 23. Sandpaper (23) T: Bjorn Baker J: — W: 50kg Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Snitzel Dam: Smooth +10000 +2500 24. Ducasse (9) T: Michael Freedman J: — W: 50kg Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Trapeze Artist Dam: Custard +5000 +1250 Horse racing news View the full article

Isn't it great. They can run a Million Dollar race with the VERY BEST of BEST from 2 countries. With a few of the best trainers and drivers involved in the HISTORY of the SPORT. and it only has to put in a measley 400k. HRNZ must be dreaming and totally thrilled to bits,  how lucky they are to get this roll up of great and tun such a great race in a back water place. for the cost of not even one house. Aren't they worth a million these days ? Putting Harness racing BACK on THE MAP . well done HRNZ . Watch out for the Aussie Quinella Brodster. In both races 😉 Gamma on the money . Brodster just 'spent force' with no money left.  tough times mate, tough times for you old time battlers. 🏆😋

Only average detective work Wingman......Oscars flatmate obviously thought about his 'all talk no do ' editorial policy and changed it from Fuckwit to Halfwit. He claims not to change posts ! As a fellow South Islander to the village idiot , I thought he may even have the same post code as me as there are caves in the hills down my way and I thought I'd maybe smoke the loser out. I guess us flatmates have every right to have an opinion on everything...I cant remember digressing off the subject of Racing much tho with my International experience I can yarn a bit about Rugby. But Chiefs MBA and my 3 x years in the 5th Form of Christ College does give us a pretty good combined CV. So wingman ..spread your tiny wings and fly away ! I still await an answer from Chief if it OK to use the word Fuck-wit .  

HRNZ/Entain/ TAB are subsidising “ The Race” substantially by $400,000 that is right $400,000 smackeroos if my arithmetic is correct!! Ten starters paying 60k for a slot and the stake is $1 million ! Where us the $400k coming from, clearly bring massively subsidised and being paid to the slot holders who probably do not need the extra $400k that would be far better spent elsewhere! Anyway, not surprising going by other decisions being made by HRNZ and Entain although they will not be worried they promised the dosh so they will blow it and then drop racing big time. Anyone actually believe that Brodie is not on the money and why ?

This tantrum from TAB For Ever has its roots in the post headed 'All talk and no do as been for decades now on track infrastructure' On 26/3, Bloke; briefly took the post down a different path saying 'Rugby clubs had to address the same issues' and also mentioned how surprised he was that Wellington has won the NPC two of the last three years. TAB For Ever (aka Oscar Madison), with an opinion on everything like his flatmate Chief Stipe (aka Felix Unger) gave his opinion and in closing suggested the best thing to come out of Wellington was the road to Auckland. At this point I, Wingman, flew in and said "Ha Ha howeva you can't beat Wellington on a good day." MikeyNZ was less impressed, didn't see the funny side and referred to TAB For Eva as a Halfwit You now have yourself in a bit of a pickle Oscar as you said you were referred to as a fuck-wit when no such thing was implied as the term was Halfwit. What do you prefer?😂