Tomorrow night’s feature race carries extra significance, with the $30,000 ‘About Now’ Colin Hair Memorial Handicap Trot a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to harness racing. We are saddened to share that Colin Hair passed last week, and our thoughts are with Nancy and the entire Hair family. Colin’s lifelong involvement in the industry was marked by passion, dedication, and genuine love for the sport. He is perhaps best known as the co-breeder and owner, alongside Nancy, of champion trotter Sundees Son, and was also a highly respected board member at Harness Racing New Zealand. Colin was farewelled at Addington yesterday, and it is a privilege to honour his memory through tomorrow’s feature race.
This year’s ‘About Now’ race has a deep look to it, with well-established trotters Nellie Doyle (30m) and Eurostyle (45m) conceding a start to some quality mares. Nellie Doyle was a very good winner at Addington two starts back over race rival Freya, while Eurostyle, a nine-time Addington winner, finished less than a length from Makaku last week from the same 45-metre back mark. Rock Lobster and Princess Sadie are both off 20 metres, with the former running a cracking third in that same race, and the latter, winner of eight races, looking sharper for her first-up run and capable of beginning very quickly from a stand. All in all, a fitting and intriguing contest to honour a wonderful contributor to our sport.
On the undercard, the $25,000 Canterbury Standardbred Breeders Stakes brings a small but select field, with trainer Bob Butt holding a strong hand. Diamonds Are Forever has been in superb form, coming out of the Cheviot Cup at her last start, while the speedy Dynasty returns from a trotting campaign including a last-start win.