Buffy Northstains first to qualify for 2026 Harness 5000

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

It's been a year of firsts for one of the country's most popular trotting mares Buffy Northstains.

In addition to winning three of her last five starts in 2026, the Bruce Negus-trained eight-year-old has now become the first horse to qualify for December's second ever Harness 5000 at Ashburton.

"That's our Cup day  - we'll be there," says Negus.

To qualify a horse's stud fee must have been no more than $5000 in the year of conception and the horse also has to front up for 12 starts between January 1, 2026 and November 22, 2026.

Already Buffy Northstains, a Majestic Son eight-year-old, has met that criteria in the 5YO and Older Trotting Mares category.

All up there will be 12 $60,000 finals, all over 1700 metres, on Sunday, December 6.

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"We will target the meeting and I'd like to think we would have at least six there," says Negus.

Buffy Northstains could well have a  stablemate in the same race too in the form of 12-race winner Paige (One Over Da Moon).

"With Buffy she could there for the next two or three years the way she's going," says Negus.

She has had 13 starts this year with wins at Motukarara (February 15), Ashburton (February 22) and Westport (March 6).

"She's only tiny - about 14.3 hands but she's all muscle," enthuses Negus.

Bought for just over $5000 as a weanling she has won 20 races and is just $8000 shy of earning a quarter of a million dollars.

"She's going as good as she ever has," says Negus, "she loves getting on the float and she certainly loves being fed!"

"You can't help but like her - she's adorable."

At last December's inaugural Phoebe Stud Harness 5000 Buffy Northstains ran sixth with the race dominated by the in-form (and now retired) I Dream Of Jeannie who won in a new New Zealand record (2:03.1).

"She was just too good," says Negus.

True to form Buffy Northstains will be back at the races, for start number 14 this year, when she lines up in the Waihora RFC Trot at Motukarara on Sunday, with Negus hoping her run of firsts are far from finished.