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Marshall rapt with first season

Kyle Marshall is in for a promising career as a trainer if his first season is anything to go by. The Cambridge horseman has recorded 13 wins and 15 placings from only 68 starts this season and he is eager to improve on that mark next term with an exciting, young team behind him. “I’m rapt with the way the season has gone and I am rapt with the help I get from different people,” Marshall said. “It seems to be a system that works, where everyone is relaxed and the horses are happy. �...

Liberal Arden secures Horse of the Year crown

Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly elected to bypass the rich Harness Jewels day at Addington with Liberal Arden last month and that decision has paid off, with the Sir Lincoln gelding taking out the Dunstan Horsefeeds Cambridge Horse of The Year title. Liberal Arden posted four victories this term at Cambridge Raceway and a number of placings to secure the title with 33 points, while the Mike Berger-trained About Turn was close behind in second place with 30 points. It was Liberal Arden’s f...

White all grins after Sunday’s win

With only one month to go in the current season Cambridge trainer Les White was able to secure his first win of the term when Hezaluckygrinner took out the Cambridge Equine Hospital Mobile Pace (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Sunday. Driver Dylan Ferguson sent the six-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear forward from gate six to take the early lead before handing up to the Nicky Chilcott-trained and driven Allonblack. Hezaluckygrinner was able to get the better of Allonblack in the homestraight to...

Just An Excuse to be honored at Cambridge Raceway

The Stoneleigh Sunday race meeting at Cambridge Raceway, this weekend features a special race, named in honour of back-to-back Gr.1 New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Just An Excuse. Bred by Ollie and Irene Haines, Just An Excuse was born in 1998, he was the sixth foal out of My Excuse, a mare the husband and wife had raced out of John and David Butcher’s stable. “She was a bloody nutter,” Haines said. “I don’t know how the Butchers ever got her to the races. “I can still remember wa...

Big future tipped for promising trotter

Promising Waikato trotter Delson gave everyone a glimpse of his potential when winning the ‘Fathers of Football’ Handicap Trot (2700m) in dominant fashion at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The Graeme Rogerson-trained four-year-old began well from his unruly mark on the front row and was able to secure the lead in the hands of driver Dylan Feguson. The pair were able to dictate terms throughout and ran away to a 3-1/2 length victory over Miss Blissful, with M’Lord Mackendon three-quarter...

Phelan records 500th driving win

Scott Phelan reached a massive milestone at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night when he recorded his 500th driving win. The South Auckland horseman steered home the Arna Donnelly-trained Bella Roza to win the Liquor Academy Mobile Pace (2200m) and he was delighted to get the victory for one of his biggest supporters. “To reach 500 wins is great,” he said. “It’s a privilege to drive for Arna, so to reach it with one of hers was great.” While Phelan was aware he was nearing the milestone...

Jewels day continues standout season for Donnelly

Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly continued a stellar season at Addington on Saturday where she recorded her first Group One placing as a trainer. Donnelly tipped both Baquero and In The Shadows as top-five chances heading into the Gr.1 4YO Diamond (1980m) and that proved to be the case, with In The Shadows running third, while Baquero was luckless back in fifth. “It was my first Group One placing,” Donnelly said. “It was a super run by that horse (In The Shadows), she is just so brave. Sh...

Cambridge runners set to plunder Jewels

Cambridge will have a strong showing at the rich Harness Jewels meeting at Addington on Saturday, with seven representatives from four stables. Trainer Arna Donnelly leads the way with three runners and that could have been four, with Liberal Arden having qualified for the Gr.1 4YO Emerald (1980m), but his connections opted to target him towards a series closer to home. “It’s really awesome (to have three runners),” Donnelly said. “We could have had four, but Liberal Arden is probably be...

Pink Ribbon Breakfast a success

Around 100 people attended the Pink Ribbon Breakfast at the Cambridge Raceway on Sunday May 19. The nationwide fundraiser is held at over 3000 locations around the country during the month of May, raising money for Breast Cancer research and patient support. Last year over $2.1m was raised by those hosting and attending Pink Ribbon Breakfast's around New Zealand. The Cambridge Raceway would like to that their generous sponsors who donated food for the occasion. Local eateries Sloth, The Deli, an...

Successful return home for White

Local horseman Matthew White may have had his first raceday drive in more than two and a half years, but he showed no signs of rust at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night, recording two wins and a placing from just four starts. He recently returned home from a decade living in Australia and the talented reinsman picked up where he left off, driving home As Free As Air to win the Pro Pack Removals Trot (2700m) for local trainer Ross Paynter, who quinellered the race with Aoraki. “I actually wo...

Berger brings up 500 individual wins

Five hundred wins is a massive milestone for any trainer, but Cambridge horseman Mike Berger managed to reach that target for a second time a few weeks ago at his local meeting. Berger, who has trained in partnership with Simon Pavlovich and Warren Rich, reached the milestone back in 2010 and late last month stable junior driver Scott Iremonger reined home Arty Pharty to record Berger’s 644th win, and more importantly his 500th as an individual trainer. With that result, Berger became the fi...

New association reaps rewards for Chilcott

Nicky Chilcott's newly found association with Central Otago trainers Geoff and Jude Knight got off to a perfect start on Friday night. The Cambridge trainer was sent Ferritts Sister to train earlier this year and the daughter of Bettor’s Delight didn’t disappoint when first-up for her new stable, winning the Balle Bros Mobile Pace (2700m) at Alexandra Park. Chilcott was delighted with the win and is looking forward to continuing a successful association with the Knight’s. “I was a bit...

Donnelly reaches new heights

It has been a month of highs and lows for Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly. The talented horsewoman underwent surgery late last month after breaking her leg in a float incident and just a few weeks later she is celebrating her most successful season to date as a trainer. Four-year-old mare In The Shadows recorded Donnelly’s 26th win of the season when taking out the Sim Pacific Metals Mobile Pace (2200m) at Alexandra Park last Friday, bettering her previous mark of 25 wins set in 2017. Donnelly...

Home treble for Berger

Cambridge trainer Mike Berger had a standout day at his home track on Sunday, recording a treble at Cambridge Raceway. Four-year-old mare Mhai Uptown Girl kicked off proceedings in the Raewyn Trotter Memorial Mobile Pace (2200m), taking the shortest route home to win by 1-1/4 lengths in the hands of Benjamin Butcher. Talented two-year-old Eagle Watch continued Berger’s winning ways in the next on the card, running away to a one length victory, while Art Major gelding Arty Pharty secured the ...

Gutsy winning return for Lemond

Group One-winning trotter Lemond has suffered a few setbacks of late but he showed his quality at Alexandra Park on Friday night when winning the Wish 4 Fish Charity Function Friday May 24 Mobile Trot (1609m). The six-year-old son of Love You went to battle with fellow Group One winner Massive Metro down the straight, distancing their rivals by nine lengths at the finishing post, where Lemond was able to get the better of his younger competitor by a nose. Trainer Ross Paynter was delighted wit...

Jewels in the crosshairs for talented two-year-old

The Mike Berger-trained Eagle Watch remains on target for a tilt at the Gr.1 Harness Jewels 2YO Emerald at Addington on June 1 after a gritty runner-up performance over 1700m at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The son of He’s Watching currently lies sixth on the Jewels leaderboard and Berger was pleased with how his charge ran home late to finish within a head of Bad To The Bone on Friday. “We were pretty happy with his run,” Berger said. “He did a bit of work in the race and was three...

Pleasant surprise for Hall

Cambridge trainer Tim Hall had reserved expectations with 18-start maiden Sarabi heading into Manawatu Raceway’s dual meeting last week, but he was pleasantly surprised when the four-year-old mare recorded a perfect result over the two days. Hall said the daughter of Gotta Go Cullect had been luckless in her previous starts and was delighted with the two victories. “We were hoping rather than anything (heading into Wednesday),” Hall said. “She hasn’t been racing badly, but hasn’t h...

The Raceway aiming at hire targets

The Cambridge Raceway is expanding its portfolio and has added furniture and décor hire to the current function room hire service.There are several fantastic spaces available for hire that can accommodate events of varying sizes and styles.  The Taylor Street location is right in the heart of Cambridge with plenty of parking making it ideal for locals and visitors alike.There are six rooms to choose from and catering options. From board meetings to trade fairs the Cambridge Raceway has roo...

Memorable night for Donnelly

Local trainer Arna Donnelly had one of her most memorable nights in racing on Thursday after winning almost half of the nine race card at Cambridge Raceway. Her blue and white colours graced the winners circle on four occasions, with Donnelly also recording a further placing on the night. Amateur driver Rodney Frampton kicked off proceedings in the opening race, reining home Liberal Arden before stable junior driver Alicia Harrison notched the stable’s second win of the night when driving We...

Butcher clean sweeps the trots

Race replay: David Butcher and Anditover winning the Mish's Delish Graze Handicap Trot ...

Alta Leonie takes out Stratford Cup

The Kyle Marshall-trained Alta Leonie recorded her second Country Cups win of the season on Saturday when victorious in the Stratford Cup (2600m). Driven by her trainer, Alta Leonie was settled to the rear of the field after pacing away well from her 30m back mark. Marshall looped the field down the back straight to sit outside pacemaker Red Magic before taking control of the race down the home straight, holding on to win by three-quarters of a length over Forever Pearl, with a further nec...

Cambridge young guns active at Karaka

Funny Face, purchased by Kyle Marshall for $12,000. photo: NZB Standardbred...

Cool And Calculating at Manawatu

Cambridge trainer Mike Berger travelled down to Manawatu Raceway last week with three-year-old filly Cool And Calculating where she managed to breakthrough for her maiden victory in the Anne McBeth, Kevin & Shirley Farrier Mobile Pace (2000m). The daughter of Art Major sat off the pace for most of the race for driver Andre Poutama before running home late to nab Karl Drogo on the line to win by half a head, with Sport Mental a further 1-1/2 lengths back in third. It was touch and go whether she ...

Winning double for Rogerson

Dual code trainer Graeme Rogerson has had a quiet run of late with his standardbreds, but that all changed at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night when he picked up a winning double at the Waikato track. The well-known thoroughbred trainer was pleased with his two victors, High Point and Anna Kate, which were reined home by his newly established foreman, Dylan Ferguson. High Point, who was bred and is co-owned by Rogerson, kicked off proceedings in the third race on the card. The four-year-old d...

Marshall bags first Cup win

Five-year-old mare Alta Leonie has come to mean a lot to Cambridge trainer Kyle Marshall. The daughter of Big Jim provided the Waikato horseman with his first training win in September and she has now given him his first Cups win after taking out the Otaki Cup (3000m) on Sunday. Alta Leonie finished runner-up in the Wellington Trotting Cup (2200m) on Friday and was able to go one better in the staying feature at the Horowhenua course, capping off a great weekend for her connections. Marsh...