Australian Harness Racing

Ron Sallis was so happy with his purchase of Llanfair Llewellan from Kelvin Winnell in New South Wales, that he was quick to express his interest in the next available horse. That was how he acquired Fifty Three Stars for his Wanora operation and the six-year-old has had instant success. The Huntsville and Platinum Black gelding has won four of his five starts for Sallis.

Newcastle is set for a huge night of live music and elite pacing when the Harness Racing NSW Carnival of Cups rolls into the Steel City on Friday, January 8. Australian rock favourites The Superjesus and Chocolate Starfish will co-headline a packed entertainment line-up as the Carnival of Cups brings its unique combination of live music, top-class racing and free family entertainment to Newcastle.

Spotlight On Newcomer The first appearance in Western Australia of We Walk By Faith will create considerable interest when he begins from the back mark of 50 metres in the Bridge Bar Handicap over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night. The Victorian-bred five-year-old boasts an impressive record and he should prove too talented for his eleven rivals at his first outing after a four-month absence.

Swayzee after winning the 2026 AG Hunter Cup. Photo by Stuart McCormick THE old boy isn’t done yet. Mighty stayer Swayzee will head to the Menangle trials tomorrow (Wednesday) as he prepares for what could be his last campaign of racing. But connections are still aiming at the top with the rising nine-year-old. Owner Mick Boots confirmed a trip to NZ in November to chase a record-equalling third win in the iconic NZ Cup. Terror To Love is the most recent in 2011, ’12 and13.

TALENTED concession driver Tasmyn Potter joined a pair of champions with her Australian record-equalling performance at Riverina Paceway last week. Undertaking a regular trip across the border, Potter dominated the Wagga card by capturing six of the eight races. As such, the 24-year-old became just the third reinswoman to register a sextet at a meeting. The world' most successful reinswoman, Kerryn Manning, was the first to achieve the feat, winning six races at Moonee Valley on March 11, 2000.

Dylan Ford and Jordan Chibnall have been selected to represent Tasmania at the 2026 Australian Drivers Championship at Globe Derby in South Australia on 3 October. Dylan and Jordy enjoyed fantastic 2025 seasons in the sulky, finishing as the top two in the Tasmanian Drivers Premiership and earning the opportunity to represent the state on the national stage. For Dylan, it’s another opportunity to pull on the Tassie colours. “It’s a real honour, and I’m proud to represent my state once again.

Eye Keep SMiling with Luke McCarthy, Jackie Gibson and Jock Randall SUPERSTAR mare Eye Keep Smiling has run her last race. Owner-breeder Jackie Gibson confirmed her retirement after finishing fourth at Menangle last Saturday night. She heads to the breeding barn at Success Stud with an amazing race record of 51 starts for 30 wins, nine seconds, two thirds and $961,526. Trainer-driver Luke McCarthy was lavish in his praise of Eye Keep Smiling.

INTER Dominion trotting runner-up Gotfeelingsyouknow takes his first steps towards a possible New Zealand raid at the Melton trials tomorrow (Tuesday). In fact, all three entrants in the 2240m standing-start trial could be bound for NZ. Gotfeelingsyouknow’s stablemate Lovemeto and David Miles’ star mare Rockinwithattitude will also line-up. The trio haven’t raced since contesting the July 18 Inter Dominion final at Albion Park won by Gus. Rockinwithattitude ran fourth and Lovemeto was sixth.

Two of New South Wales’ brightest driving talents, Jett Turnbull and Ashleigh Delosa, will represent the state at the 2026 Australian Drivers Championship in South Australia on October 3. For Turnbull, it will be the first of two major representative honours in little more than a month, with the young reinsman also selected to represent NSW at the 2026 Australasian Young Drivers Championship in New Zealand from November 3-10.

In-form pacer Art Huntsman ($7) continued his brilliant form, completing a winning hat-trick when taking out the Fehlbergs Produce Sprint Lane Pace (1609m) at Hobart’s Ladbrokes Park Elwick on Sunday afternoon. The gelded son of Huntsville settled one-out and two-back from his second-row draw before driver Kayleb Williams let him down four-wide from the 500m, going on to score by 3m over Laid Back ($3.10 fav) and My Way ($6.50) in a mile rate of 1:57.8s.