Latest news with #harnessracing
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sweet Ideal and Keayang Zahara put Victoria's Western Districts back on harness racing map
First it was Keayang Zahara, now Sweet Ideal is putting Victoria's Western Districts back on the harness racing map. The region is famous for its dairy farming, but the great Gammalite had something to say about that back in early 1980s. Leo O'Connor's mighty Terang stayer won 94 races, including two Inter Dominions (1983 and '84), was a dual Australian Horse of the Year and the first pacer in this part of the world to top $1 million in prize money ($1,386,480). Still today, as you drive into Terang, the welcome sign says 'Terang – home of Gammalite.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Terang and surrounding areas have produced some nice horses since, but the hype is huge again now. Keayang Zahara, who is nearing a racetrack return, is a potential champion. She won her first 15 starts, including a string of features in Australia and NZ, before suffering her first defeat at her latest run at Menangle on May 10. The freakishly gifted four-year-old is nearing a racetrack return for the Lee and Craven clan at Ecklin South, 15 minutes outside of Terang. Keayang Zahara has made a strong return to the track, winning the Hertz Melton Trotters Free For All with Glen Craven in the sulky. A touching moment, with Craven wearing the colours of Greg Sugars on a night remembering the champion reinsman at Melton Entertainment Park. — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 3, 2025 • It's about the same distance to Camperdown, where one of Australia's exciting pacing mares is trained by veteran horseman Gary Lawlor and his son, Daryll. Sweet Ideal has won seven of her 14 starts and shown the dazzling sort of speed that will propel her into Group 1 races. Like so many in the game, the Lawlor's have had some nice horses along the way, but never a genuine star. Bad Billy has been the best. He won 18 races, including a Hamilton Cup. He contested three heats of the 2018 Inter Dominion and also ran second to millionaire pacer Colt Thirty One in the 2019 Group 2 Queensland Cup at Albion Park. Despite just starting her career, Sweet Ideal has snatched the mantle. A Mighty win! Sweet Ideal storms up the outside to claim the Lionheart Security Pace at Melton tonight for trainer Gary Lawlor and driver Darryl Lawlor! — The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) July 19, 2025 'She's the best we've had,' Gary Lawlor said. 'Not only is the real deal, but it's so special because we've had this breed for 60 years, going back to my father, Joe. 'She's closely related to Bad Billy. Sweet Ideal is out of a half sister to Bad Billy (Lagertha). 'This mare is the best. She can do anything, stay, sprint and find plenty at the finish.' There's even a Lawlor family connection back to the great Gammalite. 'He was at our property as a foal. His mum (High Valley) was here to get in foal again with Gammalite as a foal at foot,' Lawlor said. Lawlor revealed the Sweet Ideal fairytale was almost over before it began. 'She came back from a breeding property with the mum (Lagertha) when she was just 10 days old and got pneumonia and colic,' he said. 'We rushed her to the vet where Simon (Pearce) and his wife (Alex) saved this girl's life and then cared for her until she recovered.' Sweet Ideal will be favourite to add another win in race six at Melton on Saturday night and, as always, it will be a family affair with Daryll in the sulky. 'It's a great time to have the best horse we've had. I was an electrician at Bulla (ice cream company), but retired now and can really enjoy her with Daryll and the family,' Gary said. Lawlor admits to watching on with interest as Australia's champion mare Eye Keep Smiling posted her 10th successive win and completed back-to-back Group 1 Golden Girl wins at Albion Park last Saturday night. 'I think she'll handle the step-up and follow any speed,' he said. 'She's going for a break after this race, then we'll come back for big races like the Vicbred and Breeders Crown.'
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
Small harness racers are drawing a big reaction at Maritime tracks
The Maritime Mini Racing Series features ponies pulling miniature carts, driven by young harness racers decked out in full gear. An organizer calls the competitors 'the future of harness racing,' and many of the participants say they can't wait to drive the big horses. CBC's Nancy Russell went to see them in action.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
John Singleton selects Hesitate to run in his slot in 2025 TAB Eureka at Menangle
John Singleton has pinned his hopes on exciting three-year-old Hesitate to give him back-to-back wins in the world's richest harness race. Hesitate, part-owned and formerly trained in Victoria by Damien Burns and Scott Petrie, was confirmed in Singleton's $2.1 million TAB Eureka slot today. It came after Hesitate ran a terrific second to star Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. Insiders say there was strong competition from a rival slot owner to secure Hesitate. Singleton teamed with champion trainer-driver Luke McCarthy to win last year's TAB Eureka with subsequent Inter Dominion and Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Our team think Hesitate is a horse on the up at the right time and that it's a year where the three-year-olds can win the TAB Eureka,' Singleton said. 'Bay Of Biscay got close last year and the belief is this three-year-old crop is even stronger than last year. 'It was exciting to win the race (TAB Eureka) in just its second year last year and we would love to go back and do it again.' The TAB Eureka is restricted to three and four-year-old Australian-bred pacers, but a three-year-old is yet to win it. RUBIRA TOO STRONG! ðŸ'° The @AllStarsRacing_ pacer takes out the @ladbrokescomau Queensland Derby! Driver Adam Sanderson makes it back-to-back Derby’s in the bike - the first ever to do so! ðŸ'¥ #QLDisRacing — RaceQ (@RaceQLD) July 19, 2025 The Emma Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay came closest last year when he flew home late for second to Don Hugo. For McCarthy, Hesitate securing a slot gives him the chance to remain unbeaten in the TAB Eureka. He drove the Emma Stewart-trained Encipher to win in 2023 and won with Don Hugo last year. Hesitate has raced just 23 times for 11 wins and five seconds. He ran second to exciting Kiwi pacer Rubira in last Saturday night's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Albion Park. 'I'm thrilled this horse (Hesitate) is in. I never doubted he'd get a slot, he's so good, but it's great to have it confirmed so we can just focus on the best pathway to the race now rather than having to prove anything to anyone,' McCarthy said. 'He's a genuine winning chance in a race like the TAB Eureka. He's got so much speed and the preferential draws the three-year-olds get is a big factor. 'He'll have a few easy days after the Derby run and then we'll have a look for the most suitable lead-up races between now and the Eureka. He'll be an even better horse by then than he is now.' Hesitate's managing owner Mick Harvey added: 'We were already well advanced in talks with Singo's team and they obviously liked what they saw in the Derby. 'Luke's got a huge opinion of this horse and each run is a learning curve. He should be right where we want home by TAB Eureka night. 'As many have said, there's a bit of a question mark on the depth of the four-year-olds this year, while we know this is a really strong batch of three-year-olds and Hesitate is clearly one of the best of them. 'It's also super exciting to team with somebody like Singo, who has done so much for racing and been a huge supporter of the TAB Eureka from day one.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes hopes to have runners in the biggest slot races of both equine codes
Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes hopes to have runners in the biggest slot races of both Australia's equine codes. His exciting sprinter Briasa is already locked in for the $20 million The Everest on October 18 through the slot held by Max Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Now Hawkes and his harness trainer, Geoff Webster, are hunting for a slot in the world's richest harness race, the $2.1 million TAB Eureka, with emerging three-year-old Seathestars at Menangle on September 6. Hawkes has always had a passion for harness racing and has owned '25 or more' pacers over the years, but Seathestars is potentially the best yet. The gelding won three races on end, including the South-East Derby at Albion Park on July 5, before a slashing and luckless fourth in the $150,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby last Saturday night. Seathestars drew outside the back row, sat near the rear and defied the pattern of racing to storm home into fourth spot behind star Kiwi pacer Rubira, which led throughout. 'I thought his run was great,' Hawkes said. 'You couldn't ask for any more from where he drew and how far back he was. He's always shown ability, but he keeps improving and that's the exciting part. 'Geoff (Webster) mentioned The Eureka and I let him call the shots. If he thinks the horse is good enough to aim for it, then I'm onboard. 'It's a race for three and four-year-olds and the four-year-old crop doesn't look overly strong this year, so it could be a year for a three-year-old to win it. 'It would be exciting to have a runner in The Everest and The Eureka.' • 'The shoulder has had enough': Digger calls time on career Webster added: 'I've always liked him, but on what he's done the past few weeks, especially in the Derby, he's even better than I thought he was.' Hawkes said Briasa would return to his Rosehill stables this week and had thrived during his time out. 'I think he can go up another notch this campaign, but he'll need to, given the races we're aiming at,' he said. 'Most of what he's done so far has been on raw ability. 'The timing is perfect for him to have a crack at a race like The Everest. He's lightly raced and still on the up. It's the right time of his career.' Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! ðŸ'¨ @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 Briasa boasts seven wins from just 10 starts, including the Group 1 TJ Smith, and hasn't raced since a fourth in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 19. 'Forgive that run, he just wasn't quite ready and mature enough for the 1400m,' Hawkes said. Briasa is $8 third favourite behind Hong Kong sensation Ka Ying Rising and the exciting Private Harry in latest The Everest markets. Hawkes is looking forward to the challenge against Ka Ying Rising. 'He's clearly a very good horse, but I'm not scared of him. You want to race the best,' he said. 'I know my horse has the potential to improve a lot on what we've seen so far, so I'm excited about getting the chance to take on a horse like him (Ka Ying Rising), especially in our own backyard.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Superstar pacer Leap To Fame streaks to effortless Inter Dominion victory
CHAMPION rival driver Luke McCarthy hailed Leap To Fame the greatest pacer he had seen after the Queensland champion romped his way to a second record-breaking Inter Dominion pacing final win at Albion Park on Saturday night. In front of a packed and one-eyed local crowd, Leap To Fame romped away for his 22nd successive win at his home track and his 56th win from just 69 lifetime starts. The $540,000 first prize also made him the all-time richest pacer in this part of the world with $4,630,884 – surpassing another great Queenslander, Blacks A Fake's $4,575,438 stakes tally. McCarthy, who finished fourth on defending Inter Dominion champion Don Hugo, said: 'He's amazing. He's not just the greatest stayer we've seen, he's the best horse full stop.' Leap To Fame has now contested seven Inter Dominion races, five heats and two finals, and won them all. He started the shortest priced favourite ($1.22) since the Inter Dominion began in 1936 and, after being crossed at the start, worked around to take the lead and was never in danger. 'This time it's more of a relief, the expectation was just so huge,' trainer-driver Grant Dixon said. And he leaps into harness racing immortality as @TheCreekAlbion erupts! ðŸ'¥ Leap To Fame takes control in the Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final and wins with ease - he's now the all-time richest pacer in the Southern Hemisphere! ðŸ�†ðŸ'¥ @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 19, 2025 'We had a little scare during the week. He bucked and knocked his leg, which he's never done, but thankfully it wasn't anything serious.' Leap To Fame became just the eighth pacer to win multiple Inter Dominion finals and owners Kevin and Kay Seymour hinted strongly at chasing a third crown, which only three other pacers have done (Blacks A Fake, Im Themightyquinn and Our Sir Vancelot). 'The big studs have been coming hard at us to retire him, but we'll hold off for at least another year,' Kevin Seymour said. 'We've been in the game over 50 years and this is the horse we've dreamt of getting … Kay won't let me retire him, at least not for a while yet. 'It's important everyone understands the huge role Grant and Trista Dixon have played in making this horse.' In typical Seymour fashion, he said the winning trophy would go to Albion Park track photographer, Dan Costello, who is facing a huge battle with cancer. 'Dan's one of nature's gentlemen and is going through a really hard time. I'd love him to have the trophy and Kay and I will donate $100,000 of the prize money towards Dan's medical bills,' he said. Leap To Fame will have a break before aiming at another first, victory in NZ's most iconic race of any code, the NZ Cup at Addington in Christchurch in November. Earlier, star Victorian trotter Arcee Phoenix smashed through the $1 million prize money barrier with an emotion-charged $500,000 Inter Dominion trotting final win. Trainer-driver Chris Svanosio praised his late father-in-law, Dr Alistair McLean, for his guidance with Arcee Phoenix as a talented but raw youngster. 'Without him, this horse may well not have raced at all and now he's here as a six-year-old winning the Inter Dominion,' Svanosio said. 'There's lots of feelings at the moments, emotional, excitement and just relief after such a big build-up … we did it.' Arcee Phoenix became just the fifth Aussie-trained trotter to bank over a million with first prize taking him to $1,016,280.
