Harness 5000 bid possible for northern trotter

The Roydon Downey-trained Santapazienza will inch towards a possible Harness 5000 start at Alexandra Park tonight.

The Kumeu-based trainer will line up two trotters in the Kelato Animal Health Here for the Horse Handicap Trot at 6.46pm, with Downey driving Saninarmbro ($8.50) and Harrison Orange taking the reins behind Santapazienza.

The latter is currently leading the 4YO Trotting Colts and Geldings category of the Harness 5000, and after tonight will have had four starts for the year, just one shy of the qualifying mark.

The new Harness 5000 race meeting will be held at Ashburton on December 21, with a total of 12 $60,000 finals for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception.

The finals will be for 3YO, 4YO and 5YO and older Fillies and Mares and Colts, Geldings and Entires, for both gaits

This year the qualifying period is from July 3 to December 9, 2025 and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts within this period.

To read more about Roydon Downey and his breeding approach click here   

To see the field for tonight's race click here

To se the Harness 5000 leaderboards click here