Addington runs Friday night with a 10 race card.
The “Southern Bred Southern Reared Race Night” promises a good night of action too with competitive fields.
We look over a few of the more interesting looking affairs here.
After a couple of 2yr old races to kick start us the card offers an interesting handicap trot event in race 4 the “SBSR at NZBS For Videos & Pedigrees Handicap Trot” .The tapes are scheduled to fly at 6.41pm.
The race is interesting for the fact that it pits the progressive Mataderos against open class rivals. Mataderos (closely related to Australian trotting sensation Dance Craze) gets a 10m head start on both One Apollo and stablemate Pres The Belle who led up strongly last week and was run down late. There’s also quality off the front mark with the tapes-flyer in Doff Your Cap and the M Nyhan trained Overzealous both likely to give cheek off their front marks.
The 7th on the card is the Group 2 feature. “The Garrards Premier Mares Championship Mobile Pace” has attracted just that, a field of the some of the premier mares in the country. Amazing Dream, now with trainer Hayden Cullen, looks to be all the rage with the bookies with the opening quote suggesting the mare to be unbeatable.
I’d suggest this isn’t a case of just turning up and winning.
Need You Now looks ready to run a big race off the back of a very nice last furlong in behind Enchantee last week while the Southern mares Watch Me Now and Yankee Party add to the puzzle with their strong race records.Plutonium Lady and Spellbound have both drawn out in the grandstand but could get into things if the early tempo is somewhat manic early. The Barry Purdon charge in Havtime is also to be respected even from a second row draw. All together a very strong field.
Amazing Dream looks a leading chance in the feature of the night
Also of note on the night would be a strong junior drivers race, the 9th of the night, the “SBSR Visit Harnesslink &HRNZ 4 Yearling Sales Videos Mobile Pace”.
The G O’Reilly trained Ifyousayso looks destined to play a major roll here with the son of Terror To Love proving as tough as they come in recent starts. There will also be interest in the performance of Teagan Banner who has started his racing career in fine style on both the all-weather and grass track surfaces. The 6yr will be driven by Sam Payne and has an outside barrier draw to overcome. Boom, Arden’s Reality , Blazing Impact (who is looking to extend his winning streak to three consecutive races) and Idealindreams would have to carry respect too along with Luella, a horse that is capable of surprising and can work forward from a front line draw.
A nice night of viewing that leads us towards some very strong February features in weeks to come.
Ben McMillan