Wrapping up Sunday's Harness 5000 Day from Ashburton
Harness Racing New Zealand • December 22nd, 2025 9:52 AM • 5 min read
A great day for the stock of Terror To Love, a timely boost for trainer Nathan Williamson and a stack of short-priced winners - they were some of the features of the inaugural Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 at Ashburton.
Sunday's 12-race card featured $60,000 finals all over 1700 metres (mobile).
The day was all about celebrating stallions who stood for $5000 or less and it was three-time New Zealand Cup champion Terror To Love who had his name up in lights.
A trio of the millionaire pacer's progeny saluted on the day - Little Spike ($1.30), Amass ($3.60) and Amaretto Franco ($1.60).
All three won well, with Amaretto Franco capitalising on the perfect one-one trip in the 5YO Mares Pace to give Steven McRae his 300th training success.
Little Spike was also impressive. He was five wide turning for home in the 4YO Colts and Geldings Pace and had a great battle with Rock Or Bust before Sam Ottley got him home to claim his seventh career victory for visiting Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly.
John Morrison had a good day on his local track. Amass was his second winner after leading throughout with the Thomas Twidle-trained Woodlea Rocks in Race 1 for the 3YO Fillies.
Among the hotpots to justify their strong support were Greased Lightning ($1.10), Tarragindi ($1.20), I Dream Of Jeannie ($1.90) and Dynasty ($1.60).
Dynasty was 10 lengths off them at one stage but flew home.
"What a win that is," said commentator Matt Cross.
While favourites had a good day two southern trotters got up at double figure odds.
The win came after a melee back in the field at around the 800 metre mark. Green was making a three wide move at the time and kept trucking to the line.
"That was not as I planned it," she said post race, "but I did have a lot of faith in the horse."
There were few more popular victories than Clotilde Wainwright's in Race 10 for the 4YO Trotting Mares.
Paying $11, she found the front for driver Craig Ferguson and left them to it, winning by six lengths.
It would have been a great tonic for trainer Nathan Williamson who's recovering from a fractured skull and other injuries after a race night accident at Alexandra Park a week or so ago.
"She's gone super and trotted perfectly - she's jogged that," said Ferguson, "I'm sure that will cheer Nath up a bit."
"This one's for you Nath" - A Sunday Special
Another southerner, the Clark Barron-trained Bring On The Muscle also delivered, peeling out four wide turning for home to beat pace-making favourite Donna's Boy in the 4YO Geldings and Entires Trot.
The day finished on a high with The Present Maker waltzing away with Race 12. After getting a nice three wide drag into the race the Wilson House-driven The Present Maker was untroubled to win by four lengths. It was his fourth win in his last five starts for trainers Anne-Marie and Jack Best.
