Its that time of the harness racing season that we see the emergence of the spring three year olds as they try to make the cut for the Sires Stakes final on Cup Day.
The first heat is in the North next week and several of the prominent North Island three year olds who are targeting that heat are lining up in race 5 at Alexandra Park tonight.
Horses of the caliber of Motown, Shandale, Kimani and Art Form give the race a real sires stakes heat look.
Art Form is the one of the quartet that has most of the pundits unsure where to place him in the pecking order.
The son of Art Major was a brilliant first up winner at two but his form tapered off when sent south for the big two year old races.
First up at three, Art Form dealt to his opposition by seven lengths after burning early and in doing so sent out a reminder to everyone that he will be a player in the big three year old races this season.
Trainer Steven Reid was pleasantly surprised by the first up run.
" I didn't think he was ready for a run like that so it did surprise me a bit."
" Art Form has come back a lot stronger this time in and I think he is in for a big season," Steven said.
Looking at tonights race Steven was unsure how it would pan out.
"Those small fields with a handful of talented horses are notoriously difficult to predict."
" He has improved a lot from his first up run and David Butcher is in the bike this week so we are in there with a big chance."
" However with the Sires Stakes Heat next week his main early season aim, we don't want to be giving him a gutbuster tonight either," Steven said.
Art Form has always looked a horse who was capable of mixing it with the best and he looks a live chance in this years Sire Stakes series.
Harnesslink Media