Hamilton
Myrniong duo primed for a New Zealand adventure
Wed Mar 27 2024

Myrniong duo primed for a New Zealand adventure

Trainer Jess Tubbs is looking at Melton's Saturday night meeting as the calm before the storm with her two stable stars.

It's the final "warm-up" before the Myrniong-based Tubbs and husband, Greg Sugars, embark on their third international racing raid in the past 12 months.

Hamilton: Victoria to take on the best of the best away and at home
Mon Mar 25 2024

Hamilton: Victoria to take on the best of the best away and at home

Seven Victorian horses will be on a mission to restore some pride to Victorian harness racing next month.

A disturbing statistic went largely unnoticed earlier this month when the Miracle Mile was run without a Victorian-trained contestant.

Catch A Wave locked in for Tomlinson's Nullarbor slot
Sun Mar 24 2024

Catch A Wave locked in for Tomlinson's Nullarbor slot

Past Miracle Mile winner and millionaire pacer Catch A Wave will be a surprise addition to the $1.25mil Group 1 TABtouch Nullarbor at Gloucester Park on April 19.

Catch A Wave to make a triumphant return to the track
Wed Mar 20 2024

Catch A Wave to make a triumphant return to the track

A month ago, Andy Gath feared his star pacer Catch A Wave was facing a long stint on the sidelines.

Now he’s buzzing about his return to the racetrack at Melton on Saturday night.

It was feared the 2023 Miracle Mile winner and millionaire pacer had badly injured a leg, maybe even broken a pastern, after finishing second in the Geelong Rocket on February 23.

“Obviously the main target is the big new race, the TAB Trot, on April 12, but we’ll head across in time for a lead-up, too,” Lilley said.

Queen Elida eyes return 'home' for the ultimate prize
Wed Mar 20 2024

Queen Elida eyes triumphant return 'home' for the ultimate prize

Superstar trotting mare Queen Elida will cap her preparation for a feature race raid back “home” when she steps out at Melton on Saturday night.’

Trainer Brent Lilley confirmed the five-year-old, who is chasing her fourth successive win and the 35th of his stellar 61 start career, was booked a flight back to her homeland, New Zealand, next Wednesday.

“Obviously the main target is the big new race, the TAB Trot, on April 12, but we’ll head across in time for a lead-up, too,” Lilley said.

Hamilton: My list of pacing's greatest since 2000
Mon Mar 18 2024

Hamilton: My list of pacing's greatest since 2000

Since Leap To Fame’s completed the Triple Crown with his epic and historic Miracle Mile win, the burning question has been where it ranks him with the greats of harness racing.

You better Believe it, the globe trotter is heading overseas again
Wed Mar 13 2024

You better Believe it, he's heading overseas again

Champion trotter Just Believe returns for his one and only lead-up race at Melton on Saturday night before another huge international challenge.

The eight-year-old proudly flew the Aussie flag with three fantastic runs against some of the world's best trotters in Sweden through May/June last year.

Hamilton: Slot races to reinvigorate harness racing
Tue Mar 12 2024

Hamilton: Slot races to reinvigorate harness racing

Slot races are helping put harness racing back on the map.

When they were first mooted for Aussie and NZ harness racing a few years back, views were mixed to say the least.

Now we would be lost without them.

Hamilton: Justice's breakthrough Group 1 has family ties
Mon Mar 4 2024

Hamilton: Justice's breakthrough Group 1 has family ties

Third generation driver Ewa Justice channelled her family's harness racing history when she teamed with veteran pacer Modern Bliss for her first Group 1 win in last night's $150,000 Tasmania Cup in Hobart.

Hamilton: Leap To Fame ready to make a global statement
Mon Mar 4 2024

Hamilton: Leap To Fame ready to make a global statement

Queensland sensation Leap To Fame isn’t just the best horse in this part of the world, he is the most important, too.

It takes more than sheer talent to get mainstream cut-through, but that’s exactly what Leap To Fame is starting to do in Australia and he will soon carry that to NZ

Hamilton: Kiwis Dreaming of a drought-breaking success
Mon Feb 26 2024

Hamilton: Kiwis Dreaming of a drought-breaking success

The quest to end New Zealand’s hiatus in Chariots Of Fire dominance is certainly in the right hands.

Team Gath rides Wave of emotion, but it's 'nothing serious' for Tex
Sat Feb 24 2024

Team Gath rides Wave of emotion, but it's 'nothing serious' for Tex

Kate Gath is shocked, but in a really good way.

Gath feared reigning Miracle Mile champ Catch A Wave – the best pacer she and husband Andy have trained – had fractured a leg in last night’s Geelong Rocket.

Stewart rules The Lost Storm out of the Tasmania Cup
Thu Feb 22 2024

Stewart rules The Lost Storm out of the Tasmania Cup

Star four-year-old The Lost Storm’s interrupted start to 2024 has taken another twist.

The multiple Group 1 winner has been scratched from his planned comeback race in a heat of the Tasmania Cup at Hobart on Sunday night.

The waves are getting bigger for Miracle Mile winner
Tue Feb 20 2024

The waves are getting bigger for Miracle Mile winner

Life has changed for Catch A Wave and it's “tough love time” for the reigning Miracle Mile champion.

Hamilton: Harness racing's newest box-office rivalry
Mon Feb 19 2024

Hamilton: Harness racing's newest box-office rivalry

It is often said that champion horses bring people to the track.

That’s hard to argue with, but an even better people-puller is great rivalries, in harness racing as much as any sport.

Fighting fit Fides rewards Craven's good faith ahead of Terang
Wed Feb 14 2024

Fighting fit Fides rewards Craven's good faith ahead of Terang

Lucky Matty Craven is a patient man.

For the abundance of talent pacer Fides has, he would have gotten to the bottom of most trainers.

But Craven, with the support of the passionate Lewis clan, who owns much of Fides, refused to give up.

Hamilton: A Great Southern Star rematch is on the cards
Mon Feb 12 2024

Hamilton: A Great Southern Star rematch is on the cards

The rematch is on.

As much as it was great to have pacing sensation stick around after the Hunter Cup and go to Cranbourne, the thing most people left Hunter Cup night wanting was to see Just Believe try and get revenge on Callmethebreeze.

Their epic stoush in Australia’s biggest trotting race – the Group 1 Great Southern Star – stole the show.

You better Believe a rematch is on the cards for the millionaire
Thu Feb 8 2024

You better Believe a rematch is on the cards for the millionaire

Superstar trotter Just Believe has bounced out of a rare and brave defeat and is raring to go again.

Trainer Jess Tubbs, who justifiably oozed pride in his fighting second to exciting European import Callmethebreeze in last Saturday night’s Great Southern Star, confirmed a rematch was on the cards in the $75,000 Group 1 Grand Prix at Melton on February 24.

Aiken chasing million dollar Delight at Cranbourne
Wed Feb 7 2024

Aiken chasing million dollar Delight at Cranbourne

Popular trainer David Aiken has a million reasons for staying in Victoria longer and taking on champion pacer Leap To Fame in Saturday night's $100,000 Group 2 Cranbourne Cup.

Aiken, who will move to spend most of his time training out of Menangle, decided to postpone the move a few days after his stable star Max Delight ran a slashing third to Leap To Fame in last Saturday night's $500,000 Hunter Cup.

Hamilton: More Fame may await star mare Encipher after racing
Mon Feb 5 2024

Hamilton: More Fame may await star mare Encipher after racing

As star mare Encipher recovers from a broken leg, owner-breeder Tyson Linke is looking ahead to her next chapter.

Linke confirmed the five-year-old had run her last race after last week’s successful surgery on a broken pastern sustained during her win in the Group 2 Alabar Bloodstock Ladyship Cup at Melton on January 27.