Unlike many other sports pages in New Zealand, this blog is going to celebrate the noble and historical sport of Harness Racing in New Zealand. We have a rich and world beating history in this sport, with names like Cardigan Bay and Christian Cullen known not only in New Zealand households, but in the global Harness Racing community.
It’s well and truly time to add to the long list of champion horses in New Zealand that of Auckland Reactor. As a 4 year old (very young for an Open Class horse) he is unbeaten in 15 races, from his age group peers through to the very best in the country, culminating in the New Zealand Free For All race on the second day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Addington Raceway.
Here is that race. Remember although unbeaten in 13 races to this point, he was still only a 4 year old, and he’s racing against the best in the country including the newly crowned New Zealand Cup winner (from the previous Tuesday) Changeover. Even if you don’t really get horse racing, think of a young Jonah Lomu who despite the hype still needed to prove himself, and then came that storming run in which he ran right over the last English defender to seal his place in history, this is the harness racing equivalent to that moment. Enjoy Auckland Reactor in full flight against the best Cup Class horses in the country;
From his web site
“Auckland Reactor made it 14 from 14 and proved himself the best pacer in New Zealand with an emphatic success in the $300,000 Woodlands NZ Free For All (2000 metres) in national record time of 2:21.8 at Addington Raceway in Christchurch this afternoon Friday 14 November.”
However, deciding not to got to Australia to chase the big money on the Aussie circuit, the owners have decided to keep him in NZ for the mean time to see out the season, with the very real possibility to have the perfect season. 14 became 15 wins with an emphatic win over the weekend at the Franklin Trotting Cup in Auckland, again a top class field. Enjoy this win;
This 4 million dollar horse, owned by Canadian and US interests won’t have too long to go before his name is known the length and breadth of the country, and not just in Harness Racing circles.
Here’s a background news clip on the seasons’s prospects for the horse from TVOne News;
Links:
http://www.aucklandreactor.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Reactor
