Harness 5000 next for emerging trotting star

In the minutes after his latest barnstorming win at Addington co-trainer Jack Best was very clear on where his clearly gifted trotter The Present Maker is headed.

THE PRESENT MAKER REPLAY

“The Harness 5000 is next,” he told viewers on Trackside.

The seven-year-old son of The Pres has been a big talking point, winning three of his last four starts.

He was stunning when winning on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day and then produced another real eye-catcher when running down Master Class, thanks to a very patient Wilson House drive at Addington on November 21.

“I must have watched that video six or seven times,” says Best, who trains the horse with his mother Anne-Marie. She also bred and owns the now seven-race winner.

“I was dumbfounded by his speed, how he got out at the 150 and did what he did,” says Best, “he’s just a happy and confident horse.”

He also credits farrier Kerry Estreich with doing a “fantastic job”.

“We have tried different things and it seems the recipe is right now.”

It was The Present Maker’s fifth win this year, taking his earnings in 2025 to over $70,000.

In the Harness 5000 5YO and older Trotting Entires and Geldings category there are 69 horses eligible, with The Present Maker the top seed with nearly $40,000 in qualification stakes.

Helping The Present Maker’s chances is confirmation that the second-placed Lord Popinjay, who’s been in brilliant form up north, will not be heading to Ashburton, opting to stay closer to home.

For Best travel is the least of his worries.

“It’s (Ashburton) just down the road,” said the Rolleston-based trainer.

Between now and then The Present Maker will spend a bit of time on the water walker before going to the trials for a final hit-out.

“Hopefully he’ll be cherry ripe for the big day”.

Every week the Harness 5000 Progress Tracker is updated to show the number of horses who have reached the qualifying threshold for the meeting.

Right now the figure is at 371.

To see the Harness 5000 Thermometer click here 

The Harness 5000 is for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts between July 3 – December 9,2025.

There will be a maximum of 14 starters in each of the 12 $60,000 finals. They will all be held over 1700 metres (mobile).

To see the Harness 5000 Leaderboard click here

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk