The Harness Jewels are the pinnacle of the season in New Zealand for many in the industry and this years version at the harness racing meeting at Ashburton on Saturday (May 30th) promises to be a beauty.
Harnesslink has decided to do a runner by runner preview of every division.
Here is our preview of the Group 1 $150,000 4YO Emerald for 4YO colts and geldings.
1) Ideal Success - (American Ideal - Maheer Glen by Holmes Hanover)
Starts: 27 Wins: 9 Secs: 2 Thirds: 2 Life: $60,630
Under rated type who has won nine races but away from the metropolitian tracks in the main
Faced a lot of these in the New Zealand Messenger and went super, running on well late to be only three lengths from the winner after being last on the corner.
Showed a bit of tow off the gate at last Saturday's workouts so should be able to hold up from a front line which doesn't have a lot of speed in close.
Draw means he is a trifecta and first four player
2) Quick As A Trick - (Lis Mara - Quick Atom by Soky's Atom)
Starts: 30 Wins:8 Secs: 3 Thirds: 3 Life: $79,148
Another horse who has won eight races but again most of them were away from Addington.
Has looked really smart at times but has disappointed just as much.
Last Friday nights run was average at best and not a good rehearsal for this week.
Hard to make a case for him as a first four player.
3) Take After Me - (Holmes Hanover - Give Or Take by Live Or Die)
Starts: 22 Wins: 2 Secs: 8 Thirds: 2 Life: $30,658
A two win horse who looks right up against it here.
Has yet to face a field of this quality and this is not the race to change that.
Has made it back into the field from the ballot but we can't see him being competitive here.
4) Te Kawau - (Bettor's Delight - Haylin Express by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 30 Wins: 11 Secs: 7 Thirds: 6 Life: $109,174
Lovely big horse who is honest as and will give a big sight here.
Not sure if a mile is really his go but the quicker they go the whole way, the more chance he has.
Will outstay most here so has to hope for plenty of mid race pressure to bring the speedsters back to him.
Include in everything.
5) Milligan - (Grinfromeartoear - Outkast by Panorama)
Starts: 51 Wins: 5 Secs: 10 Thirds: 8 Life: $46,874
Consistent gelding who always gives of his best but that won't be enough here.
This is a huge step up in class from what he has been racing down south.
Hard to see how he can run in four in a field of this quality.
6) Tiger Tara - (Bettor's Delight - Tara Gold by Dream Away)
Starts: 35 Wins: 11 Secs: 9 Thirds: 6 Life: $417,174
High class four year old who went two beauties up north in the Taylor Mile and the Messenger.
His last run at Addington was super and he thrives on racing so will be better this week.
Will head to the front and be hard to catch.
Include in everything.
7) Dalton Bromac - Scratched
8) Provocative Prince - (Grinfromeartoear - Catherine Zeta by Village Jasper)
Starts: 30 Wins: 6 Secs: 7 Thirds: 5 Life: $61,106
Very consistent horse who takes winning form into this but not at this level.
If he had drawn a good barrier then he would have been a first four player.
Hard to see him as a first four contender from out here.
9) Mr Franklin - (Grinfromeartoear - Sheza Gem by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 35 Wins: 5 Secs: 4 Thirds: 6 Life: $46,223
This campaign he has been in career best form but still doesn't win out of turn.
Would like him over something a bit longer as well.
The draw is the killer blow and makes his task way too hard.
Can't make a case for him to be a first four contender
SECOND LINE
10) Onedin Mach - (Mach Three - Stylish Onedin by Stand Together)
Starts: 32 Wins: 9 Secs: 4 Thirds: 6 Life: $58,328
Has had his issues this season but does get a draw he can work with here.
Looks like he will end up three deep on the inner at worst which makes him a first four contender.
Dexter in the bike won't hurt the cause as well
11) Sky Major - (Art Major - Sky Beauty by In The Pocket)
Starts: 39 Wins: 14 Secs: 7 Thirds: 6 Life: $670,189
The horse they all have to beat here.
Loves the mile distance having won seven times over it in his career to date and right in the zone at the moment.
Zac Butcher in the bike is just a bonus and hard to see him not giving this a big shake.
Clear first pick here
12) Mighty Major - (Art Major - Isabella Anvil by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 16 Wins: 6 Secs: 5 Thirds: 1 Life: $43,181
Another horse that needed a bit of help at the barrier to be a contender here.
Mixed it with Dalton Bromac earlier in the season but hasn't quite been as sharp as that recently.
Great driver in Blair Orange in the bike but still only an outside first four contender at best here.
13) Isaiah - (Art Major - EJ Becks by In The Pocket)
Starts: 37 Wins: 13 Secs: 5 Thirds: 11 Life: $584,942
Was in devastating form earlier in the season and was an unlucky third in the Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.
Not seen at his best at Auckland due to a foot issue but as Messini showed last week, it never pays to under estimate the All Stars barn on producing them fresh and ready to run.
At his best he is right in this up to his neck and has Natalie in the bike so that is a big plus.
Include in everything
14) Messini - (Art Major - Mesmerizing by In The Pocket)
Starts: 39 Wins: 16 Secs: 9 Thirds: 2 Life: $304,884
Career best run last week to win in super time at Addington after two poor efforts at Auckland where he didn't handle that way round.
If the same Messini turns up at Ashburton then he is definitely a contender here.
Does have blinding speed if held up for one run and likely to get that kind of run from out here.
Include in everything.
SELECTIONS
The clear first pick for us is Sky Major who is in great form and loves the distance.
Tiger Tara is the danger to him from the draw as he can make his own luck from the front line and is a clear second pick here.
Three horses in Te Kawau, Isaiah and Messini are the next three horses in the pecking order and it is hard to favour one ahead of any of the others.
Throw in Ideal Success, Onedin Mach and Mighty Major for those first fours
Harnesslink Media
