Harness Racing Expert & Host of Trots Talk Greg O’Connor catches up with Smithy to preview the weekends Harness racing actions across the country, and may even have a couple of tips
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Racing New Zealand
Harness Racing Weekend Preview | Harness Racing Expert & Host of Trots Talk Greg O’Connor on Mornings with Ian Smith (27/9/24)
A.B.C. Thursdays. Welcome back. Grey's Anatomy is all new. Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? The drama going down. Bunchy jumper from the bridge. Your cords snapped. You need all hands on deck. Is unbelievable. You think your gods give to this hospital? You're just another doctor. My relationship with Catherine is complicated. I'm going to sue you. Your lawyers know where to find me. You're unbelievable. Grey's Anatomy. Only Thursdays, 10/9c on ABC. And stream on Hulu. It is 10/28 here on ACNZ time for us to look at the harness racing side of things for this weekend. Of course, Friday night lights will be on your screens. Very popular through addition to the broadcast. And great previews available on that show. Tonight we're at Edington. We're at Alexandra Park. Let's start in Your Neck of the Woods Grego Corner. There's some nice racing tonight, in fact. Actually, I like the Aldebaran trout because I'm really looking at the future of this really promising horse, her baby pet. Yeah, Monica, your smithy. She's talented, no doubt. And she's in the right stable, Greg and Nina Hope. They just do a magic job. With your team, as we've done over a long period of time, with horses like Mont Bay and obviously Muscle Mountain and the current era. And this might be the era parent. She's unbeaten in three. Blair Orange drives her. She nearly galloped last week and managed to gather her up again. And she raced away to win quite comfortably in the end. Very good race for her and I, taking on a whole lot of first starters, including Empire City. Sister Empire City, of course, one of the favourites for the new trout race, the ascent on showed a half million dollar race. So it'd be interesting to see how that one goes. It's also in Phil Williamson barn. But yeah, it looks a bit depats race to lose. The big one there tonight, though, is, of course, the Lam and Haywood Canterbury Classic. This is the race. Smithy, we're the top three home. Get an automatic entry into the IRT million dollar in New Zealand Cup the second Tuesday in November. So for a number of connections tonight, Smithy, it's not the last hurrah, but it's certainly a wonderful opportunity. Of course, last year's won a Republican party, who's not in danger of not making the field. He has to start off the second row, but he was very good winning the end of the morning a couple of weeks ago. Brilliant. OK. I also am looking forward to looking at Lazarus in the three-year-old stakes race. With us, sorry, the Lazarus three-year-old stakes, we're looking at-- we walk by faith. And there's probably not a shorter horse on the market tonight than Wegstad a little later, too. Yeah, Wegstad is a good horse. Fresh up today, couple of trials, really smart type. He's getting into up and open company, Smithy. So he should be winning. Geo-wish Lazarus was in that race, Smithy. Would take the short odds about it, wouldn't we? Yeah, he was an outstanding three-year-old, just a wonderful race horse. So it's great to have a race named after him. I like that fact. I like the way we do it in racing, that we acknowledge the stars of the past. And of course, he is a-- I think he won the Canterbury Classic twice as well. He won two years in the cups as we know. But he is a good field. We walk by faith, a really smart horse. A group won before he placed in the side stakes on Cup day, and then he came out and won an ace's race a month later. He is first up, though, Smithy. And I reckon there's a bit of value in this race. Double Gefity is not the worst at double figures. And a horse called Better Than Cash, who's trained by Regan Todd. I expect him to really put his hand up. He has been by Tech McLeod, who's in the Canterbury Classic last week and wasn't far behind him. So yeah, I'll give him a great chance. But you're on to Wagstar. He's a horse you can follow, not only tonight, but into the cup carnival, too. Alexandra Park, of course, running a meeting alongside. They have tonight a 10-race card. One of the features is the Nively R mobile stakes. And that will be on race seven. And there's a short-priced thing in the SNES, a small field. But if they go past, that just makes it a little surprise to Tope for us that. Yeah, she's a lot for your multi. So I think she's $1.22 now. She's a $2.18 out to $1.22. She's a $2.80 favorite to win the final on New Zealand Cup day. The Nively R final. Oh, she's just a brilliant filly. She's trained by the master Barry Poont alongside. It's got Phil and Zachary Butcher. She's a lot for your multi's tonight. She's the best source there, and all eyes will be on her. They have another runner that I think will win. A horse called Invisible. Race eight, number six. Zach drives small field. Unlucky last time. I see the big fish. The whale's gone for it as well. Smitty, so he gets shortened into a bit of $1.90. So no big spoils there. Racing on Sunday, Smitty. We have a far lap raceway. Tamaroo, there'll be 12 races there. Cops talk from 11 o'clock. We'll talk to a few of the trainers and drivers and try and find you some winners from the year. And it's Kilmoor Cup night tonight. Better Eclipse is locked in for the New Zealand Cup. A couple of Jason Grimsen runners in that Kilmoor Cup tonight to including district attorney, who the only horse to be led to fame this year. He goes round in there. So there'll be a bit of interest in the Kilmoor Cup with a view towards that New Zealand Cup as well. Good morning, Greg. Pussy weekend for you starting, of course, tonight. And of course, over the weekend as well. So we look forward to that Trotstalker edition on Sunday morning. All of our best is you build up to a magnificent part of the year for you trotting people. So yeah, it is a great time, so you're running. Beautiful night.