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Which Kingman will turn up at Cambridge?

ANYONE who watched Kingman win the iconic NZ Cup just five months ago won’t believe he is an outsider in tomorrow’s $1 million The Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge.Kingman’s NZ Cup win was one of the best performances of the modern era and certainly one of the greatest in the history of the great race.Simply, if he reproduced that, he would make light work of a horror outside draw at Cambridge.But the conundrum facing punters is what Kingman will we see at Cambridge?That’s because his f...

Leap to Fame vs Swayzee

IT has been one of the great sibling rivalries.Since Swayzee first met and upset his younger half-brother Leap To Fame in the 2023 Blacks A Fake, they have clashed another eight times.The scoreline is firmly in Leap To Fame’s favour at 6-3.But you could argue they are three-all across the six “majors” they have clashed in when one of them has won.Swayzee’s wins over Leap To Fame been in two Hunter Cups (2025 and ’26) and that 2023 Blacks A Fake.Leap To Fame’s “major” wins ov...

Rating the Aussie raiders at Cambridge

CHAMPION Aussie trotting mare Keayang Zahara is a key part of Australia’s record eight raiders chasing the two marquee races at Cambridge’s Night of Champions on Friday night.Keayang Zahara and her star stablemate, Jilliby Ballerini, are well poised to continue the Aussie dominance in The $NZ530,000 TAB Trot, which has been won by the Victorian-trained Just Believe (2024) and Arcee Phoenix (last year) since its inception.Beyond that, Victorians filled the first four placings in 2024 wit...

Keayang Zahara even better since last NZ trip

NEW Zealanders will see a different Keayang Zahara to when she crossed the ditch 18 months ago.Driver Jason Lee said the now five-year-old had matured a lot from when she home in three feature races at Addington in late 2024.“As far as ability goes, she’s always been super since day one, but it’s more her manners and ringcraft which has improved. She’s a complete package now and that stretches to how she travels to and from the races now,” he said.“She’s a very smart animal now, sh...

Smiles after Kingman & Swayzee trial

THERE were no fireworks, but still plenty of smiles after NZ Cup winners Kingman and Swayzee trialled together at Menangle this morning.The superstar pair, who have won the past three NZ Cup between them, were there to sharpen-up before crossing the ditch again for Friday week’s $1 million The Race by Sport Nation at Cambridge.The trial was important given Swayzee and Kingman have not raced since the Miracle Mile on March 14.It was especially important for Kingman, who ran so far below his bes...

Keayang Zahara primed for NZ after sparkling trial win last night

BRING on Cambridge.Champion Australian trotting mare Keayang Zahara has ticked her final box before heading to NZ with a scorching Terang trial win last night (Tuesday).Co-trainers Paddy and Marg Lee opted for the trial instead of racing her from a standing-start at the same track last Saturday night.“The team were really happy with that trial, she’s right where we want her,” Paddy Lee said.Keayang Zahara is booked on a flight from Melbourne to Auckland on Saturday with her star stablemate...

Confidence builds around Kingman

CHAMPION horseman Luke McCarthy is growing in confidence Kiwis will see the best of Kingman again.The reigning NZ Cup winner will trial at Menangle on Wednesday in preparation for his trip to Cambridge for the $1 million The Race by Sport Nation on Friday week.It is the most important guide yet to where Kingman sits after and on again, off again Cambridge raid.After running well below his best in the Miracle Mile and a qualifier the week before, first thoughts were Kingman would skip Cambridge.�...

First of the Aussies to step out at Cambridge

THE Aussie raid starts at Cambridge on Thursday night.Star stablemates The Janitor and Gus are the “advance party” ahead of Cambridge’s huge Night of Champions on Friday week.A record eight Aussie horses – five pacers and three trotters – will tackle the two features, the $1 million The Race by Sport Nation and the $530,000 TAB Trot.That’s one more than when Australia won both features last year with Leap To Fame and Arcee Phoenix.Gus, who won the huge Group 1 double at Addingto...

Leap To Fame wins again and primed for Cambridge

LEAP To Fame is primed for his title defence at Cambridge.The champion Queenslander cruised to his 67th win from 86 starts when he scorched a 53.3sec last half over 2138m at Albion Park last night.It was Leap To Fame’s 44th win from just 50 starts at Albion Park, taking him to outright fifth on list for most wins at “The Creek” behind Destreos (73), Our Overanova (51), Nickys Falcon (47) and Colt Thirty One (44).Racing Queensland and Albion Park used the night to recognise Leap To Fam...

Leap to Fame change of plans

LEAP To Fame has pleased connections so much since winning the Miracle Mile he will have an unexpected race at Albion Park on Saturday night.It's just over a week since the Queensland champion scored one of the biggest and most significant wins of his stellar career with a second Miracle Mile victory at Menangle.Trainer-driver Grant Dixon was thrilled with how he came through the race and the theme has continued since getting back to his Tambourine base, just outside Brisbane."Grant's ...

Keayang Zahara won't race again before Cambridge

CHAMPION mare Keayang Zahara will go into the $530,000 Trot Slot without another start.The decision not to contest Saturday night’s Terang Trotters’ Cup means she will be 27 days between runs when she steps out at Cambridge.But co-trainer Paddy Lee isn’t fazed.“We thought seriously about the Terang race, but just didn’t think it was the right thing with the NZ trip so close,” he said. “She’s qualified from a stand, but never raced in one.“They’ve added some trials for Te...

Captains Knock confirmed for Cambridge

STAR NSW pacer Captains Knock will add to the Aussie raid at Cambridge next month.Connections wanted to see how he came through last Friday night’s Renshaw Cup at Cambridge, but trainer-driver Brad Hewitt has given him the tick of approval.Captains Knock fell agonizingly short of banking a record $1 million bonus at Penrith.The six-year-old missed the full NSW Carnival of Cups bonus by a half-head when second and rundown late by the much-improved Ubetcha Tigerpie.Like Swayzee last year, Captai...

NZ Cup winner Kingman out of Cambridge

NEW Zealand Cup hero Kingman is out of the $NZ1 million The Race at Cambridge next month.The one-time favourite for NZ’s equal richest race ran well below his best when sixth in the Miracle Mile.It followed a below par run when a tiring ninth after leading in his Miracle Mile qualifier a week earlier.Owner-breeder Mick Harvey confirmed Kingman would have a break.“That (huge) Hunter Cup run took its toll on him,” he said. “When Swayzee was losing ground (in the Miracle Mile), he (Kingman)...

Star Aussie pair to make early raids on NZ

KIWIS are set to get a sneak preview of two Aussie stars ahead of Cambridge’s Night of Champions on April 10.Trainer Chantal Turpin revealed brilliant trotter Gus and emerging pacing star The Janitor were set to race at Cambridge eight days ahead of the big night.“We’re going across early enough and that’s the plan,” she said.Gus, who stunningly won the Group 1 trotting double – Dominion and NZ Free-For-All – during last November’s NZ Cup Week, will tackle the $60,000 Group 2 Wai...

Drax Project to play Night of Champions afterparty

One of Aotearoa’s most successful modern acts, Drax Project will be playing the legendary Night of Champions after party at Cambridge Raceway on Friday April 10. From their beginnings as jazz students busking on the streets of Wellington, Drax Project, have gained international recognition. With nearly one billion streams, 34 platinum accreditations, and international hits including “Woke Up Late” (ft. Hailee Steinfeld) and “Catching Feelings”, t...

Aussies return for Dorothy Cutts at Cambridge

Another trans-Tasman battle is looming in the second instalment of the Dorothy Cutts Invitational, sponsored by N40 Racing as part of Cambridge Raceway's Night of Champions on Friday, April 4.The race celebrates Dorothy Cutts' history-making win with Kenworthy at Cambridge in 1979. It marked the first time a female driver had won a full totalisator race in New Zealand.  Four of the 12 drivers who took part last year will return in 2025. They are the North Island-based trio of Nicky Chilcott...

Gath confident ahead of TAB Trot

Andy Gath’s confidence is growing by the day.At first the top Aussie trainer hoped his classy mare Im Ready Jet could be competitive in the $600,000 TAB Trot, but now he thinks she can win it with luck.“It’s like everything is coming together at the right time,” he said. “She’s really in the zone.“We weren’t sure where she was at until about a week or so before she ran first-up this campaign and then she started working well at home.“She’s had the two wins back and her work a...

Leap To Fame on the road to Cambridge

There is no turning back this time.After two aborted trips to NZ last year, champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame is definitely heading across this time for next Friday’s $1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge Raceway.The first leg of the trip starts when Grant and Trista Dixon take him by road from their Tambourine stables to Sydney on Saturday morning.“It gives him a while to settle again before the flight at 11am Sunday (Sydney to Auckland),” Dixon said.Leap To Fame returned to winning for...

Aussie stars primed for Cambridge

Aussie pacing stars Leap To Fame and Don Hugo both looked fantastic on Saturday night, when winning their final lead-up races for the $1mil The Race by betcha at Cambridge Raceway.Don Hugo was first out, working his way to the lead and winning as he liked in a 1min49.3sec free-for-all mile.The Miracle Mile winner scorched his last quarter in 25.9sec.Leap To Fame was asked to do a lot more and delivered, smashing the Albion Park 1660m track record with a 1min48.6sec mile rate and runaway 23m win....

Seymour confirms NZ trip for Leap To Fame

Leviathan owner Kevin Seymour has dismissed speculation Leap To Fame's New Zealand trip would be aborted.Talk escalated over the weekend after the champion pacer's fantastic second to Don Hugo in the Miracle Mile.But Seymour today confirmed the trip was a goer and Leap To Fame would, as previously indicated, go early to have a lead-up run in the Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge on March 28."We have had a bit to weigh-up, but he's going to NZ," Seymour said."We'd originally planned to get him bac...

Tact McLeod presses claims for The Race

By Adam Hamilton Wanted - a slot in the $1 million Race by betcha at Cambridge's Night of Champions on Friday, April 4.That’s the call from Tact McLeod’s driver and caretaker trainer Anthony Butt after the emerging Kiwi pacer ran a slashing third in Saturday night's  stellar Miracle Mile behind Don Hugo.“That’s where we want to go,” Butt said. “It would be a perfect race for him with his gate speed around the Cambridge track.“I’m so proud of how well he’s stepped into...

Dunstan secures final spot in TAB Trot

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk It could be racing's perfect marriage.Dunstan Horsefeeds has just secured the eighth and final slot for the $600,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge's Night of Champions on April 4 - and all they need is a horse.And Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer reckons in Not As Promised he has the horse for the big race - and all he needs is a slot.So could be a deal be done?Not so fast, says Dunstan's founder/director Dave Smith."We have a couple on our radar," says Smith, "wi...

Aussie snaps up last slot for $1m The Race by betcha

Big spending Australian Joshua Davine says he's got three horses on his shortlist for the $1m The Race by betcha at Cambridge on April 4.Davine's N40 Racing and the high profile Boys Get Paid have secured the 10th and last slot for the big pacing feature on Cambridge's Night of Champions.Each slot is worth $60,000, with the winner taking home $420,000."It's not about the money," says Davine, "it's about being part of something big and the excitement and atmosphere. We will also be donating a com...

Leap To Fame returning earlier than expected

KIWIS will get to see champion Aussie pacer Leap To Fame in the flesh earlier than expected.The six-year-old heads to a title defence in the $1mil Miracle Mile at his next run on Saturday week, then the focus switches to the $1mil The Race by Betcha at Cambridge on April 4.But owner Kevin Seymour said it was “most likely” Leap To Fame would have a lead-up run at Cambridge in the $60,000 Group 2 Waikato Flying Mile on March 28.“Grant will start locking down plans over the next week or so,�...

Cambridge slot races confirmed for 2025

Waikato-Bay of Plenty Harness Racing Incorporated’s two slot races, The Race and TAB Trot have been confirmed for 2025. The races will headline the renowned Night Of Champions meeting at Cambridge Raceway on Friday April 4.“We’re excited to confirm both races will be run again,” Cambridge Raceway CEO Dave Branch said. “It will be the fourth edition of The Race and the second running of the TAB Trot. “This meeting has become a highlight of the Australasian Harness Racing cal...