David McCarthy does a great job at the All Stars Racing Stables with his previews of all of their runners each weekend and this week is no exception with his preview for the big weekend of harness racing ahead.
With the kind permission of the All Stars team we have reprinted the preview below.
Auckland – Friday night
Race 2
Chase The Dream (8) Natalie
Form: Impressive late run to win the Sapling Stakes on debut. Ability not in question.
Comment: "First time that way round but he has high speed and he is also pretty tough. The sort of hors e you can use a bit and he will still kick on. Doing well up there too"
Race 3
Wanna Play (3) Natalie
Form: Broke last week after good racing in south
Comment: "One I am not too confident about. Standing starts are not really her thing and she is not quite as good right-handed. On ability she would win it but I have reservations"
Race 4
Arden's Choice (6) Natalie
Form: Strong second to stablemate at Timaru mile rate1.57 plus and home in fast time.
Comment: "There's not much between our fillies and I don't know a lot about some of the others. outside the two favoured ones. I will go with Dream About Me in spite of the draw but my drive Arden's Choice is up there with her and the run of the race will decide the best of our pair. They haven't had a lot of practice raceday but should be ready.
Dream About Me (11) Tim
Form: Won debut at Timaru. Hard form to fault.
Comment: see above
Race 6
Change Stride (10) Brent Mangos
Form: Consistent form over the summer and again last week. Draw no help.
Comment: Yes working ok up there and will go a good race but maybe just a little below our other two at this level.
Kept Under Wraps (6) Natalie
Form: Eye catching trial and then eye catching first upper last week. Danger here.
Comment: "The boys up north are very pleased with him and he will improve a lot with that last run after one trial. He will improve again with this but is competitive.
Follow The Stars (13) Tim
Form: Brave in Victoria Derby beaten by the draw. Not a good one here either.
Comment: "Doing really well up there and I expect him to win even from that draw with any luck at all"
Race 8
Classical Art (1) Natalie
Form: Progressed nicely from quiet trial to bold run last week. Poised.
Comment: "Nothing will beat her out of the gate but the decisions are not easy after that. If I don't go out of the gate she could end up pulling three back on the fence and that is no way to go about it. Its a question whether I hand up to one of the top ones and risk her tugging in the trail or just try and win it from the front which is hard to do but she is capable of doing it. The tactics will be interesting but I expect her to lead early at least.
Linda Lovegrace (5) Ricky May
Form: Missed a race last week but flashed home strongly at Ashburton previously.
Comment: "I am not too worried about her missing that race last week. She hasn't missed any work. Also she always seems to go really well when she is freshened. Her best races have sometimes been like that. So she is a contender though not my top one.
Supersonic Miss (10) Tim
Form: Showed her class as false odds last week. Super on best day.
Comment: "I think she is the best chance of the three actually. From that draw she will be out of the early rush and will have options after that. She thrives on racing and should only have improved with that race. She gets top billing.
Race 9
Border Control (2) Tim
Form: Did some work to lead last week from a handicap and beaten by passing lane. Ran fastest time. Still on up.
Comment: "Another good run from a handicap last week and he can still get better. Each way chance and a good one.
Smolda (5) Natalie
Form: Outstanding first up last week from a long handicap and should only be improved
Comment: "I think he can win. That is based on his first up run last week which was great and his work this week has them really happy up north. He has stepped up they feel so he should be competitive in this field. "
Menangle – Sunday Afternoon
Race 3
Fight For Glory (11) Natalie
Form: Easy winner of her heat and one of the hardest to beat here.
Comment: "She doesn't need bad luck but she doesn't need good luck if you get what I mean. Even from that draw if she gets a reasonable run she should be very hard to beat. Her heat run was most impressive. She is at the top of her game and I think unless I do something stupid or somebody else does she is the one to beat.
Race 4
Adore Me ( 12) Natalie
Form: Went 1.51 last week but has a woeful draw.
Comment: " Mark was happy to just do the training for the day as I am driving the others and if anything comes up he has the time to deal with it.
It is all good news on the training front from Sydney.
I don't know about that draw, whether to go straight out of the gate or wait a few seconds and see what happens.
There is a bit of speed on the front line so it will be interesting.
I notice that while Ruby did it hardly any horses win at Menangle when parked so we will have to see.
She is the best horse in the race so unless I stuff it up she should still be the horse to beat.
We would decide on an Auckland Cup run after seeing how hard a race she has "
Race 5
Hug The Wind (1) Natalie
Form: Devastating heat win makes him favourite. Draw might be tricky.
Comment: "As I said I would actually have preferred a gate one or two out. You need gatespeed from one and fortunately he has it What unfolds from there is not so easy to predict. You run the risk of getting trapped if you hand up to the wrong horses.
He is really well and probably the one to beat"
Race 6
Isaiah (5) Natalie
Form: Outstanding leadup over a mile last week and improved with that
Comment: Well he has stepped up all season really but this will be his biggest test.
Sky Major in particular looked very impressive last week and Bling It On is highly rated so from 5 I will just have to see what develops.
It was a great leadup last week and he will improve with that so I am very hopeful he can pull it off"
Cheviot – Sunday Afternoon
Race9
Sophisticated Lady (3) Jim Curtin
Emeli Maguire (4) Ricky May
Northern Velocity (10) Matt
Comment : "Northern Velocity would be the pick of them but she has that woeful draw which will not help.She hopped out of her gear last week but it was just that she lost concentration. She is still a bit dumb when it comes to racing.
The other two are sort of in the same boat. Emeli Maguire might have a break after this. We will see how she goes. She is a lanky filly and has some growing to do.
Sophisticated Lady had a run just good enough to qualify at the trials with a race coming up. She might also need a little break after this we will see.
Northern Velocity wouldn't want to be giving the other two too much ground turning for home but if all goes well she will be the best of them"
Courtesy of All Star Racing Stables – Check Site here