Big Green team set for Harness 5000

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

In-form Invercargill trainer Kirstin Green has a simple approach when it comes to this year's Advanced Feed Harness 5000 at Ashburton.

"If my horses are eligible, they will go," she says.

At the moment she has three horses (Just Like Jagger, Geraldine Clowers and  Garonne) that are eligible, with as many as four others, including Mor Moonlight and Cold Pursuit, in the frame.  

The second edition of the Harness 5000 will be held at Ashburton on Sunday, December 6 with 12 Listed $40,000 races for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO Trotters and Pacers whose sire stood for $5000 or less at the time of service.

There'll be a maximum of 14 starters in each race which will all be held over 1700 metres.

To qualify 3YOs must start in at least eight races between January 1 - November 22, 2026 with at least 12 races for the 4YO and 5YO and older horses.

Green won the 3YO Trotting Fillies race last year with Mor Moonlight and the daughter of One Over Da Moon is set to return in the 4YO equivalent this year.

She's had 11 starts for three wins so far in 2026.

"So she needs one more start to be eligible," says Green, "she's on a wee break at the moment but there is plenty of time left and we will start a new preparation soon."

Stablemate Geraldine Clowers is also eligible for the race, and is currently 11th in the standings as is stablemate Garonne in the 5YO and older Trotting Entires and Geldings.

Fiery Bandito is further down the list but would qualify with two more starts  while in the 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Kairo is 15th and needs one more start to meet the criteria.

All set to head north is Just Like Jagger, who put away her opposition by over four lengths at Addington last Friday.

She currently leads the rankings in the 4YO Pacing Mares category.

"A mile around Ashburton would suit a horse like Just Like Jagger," says Green.

The same, she says, could be said for Cold Pursuit who led all the way to win at Invercargill last Thursday.

Cold Pursuit is currently 19th in the 5YO and older Pacing Geldings and Entires but could easily make the field over the next month or so.

"He's a lovely horse. We only have him because (owner-breeder) Keith (Norman) is in Japan but he'd be pretty competitive too."

The 5YO and older Pacing Geldings and Entires is the category with the most eligible horses. There are 78 in all.

Next is the 61 Trotting 5YO and older Entires and Geldings.

Altogether just on 300 horses have so far met the eligibility criteria.

The Green Team :

Eligible now :

Just Like Jagger - 4YO Pacing Mares
Geraldine Clowers - 4YO Trotting Mares
Garonne - 5YO+ Trotting Entires and Geldings

Possibilities :

Mor Moonlight - 4YO Trotting Mares
Fiery Bandito - 5YO Trotting Entires and Geldings
Kairo - 3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings  
Cold Pursuit - 5YO Pacing Colts and Geldings

To see more about Harness 5000 click here