It is quickly coming around to that point of the New Zealand harness racing season where we start to hand out the gongs for best performed in each age group and gait divisions.
Harnesslink thought we would do a review of each of the categories with our view on where the contenders sit.
This is a review of the 2 year old trotters colts / geldings division.
1) Conon Bridge – 2015 Season: 4 starts, 2 wins, 0 seconds, 1 thirds, Lt $47,071
From just four starts the son of Raffaello Ambrosio showed enough to suggest he has a huge future in front of him.
Started off the unruly in all four starts which put him at a major disadvantage compared to his rivals but still very competitive with the very best.
Races without an overcheck which led to his down fall in the Harness Jewels when he dipped his head down and galloped.
His recovery to run sixth was an outstanding effort in the circumstances.
Looks a certainty for this award.
2) Royal Willie – 2015 Season: 7 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, Lt $10,986
Very smart son of Majestic Son but manners let him down big time late in the season.
Good enough to sit parked at Auckland and win against the maidens and very smart in the two year old trots in the north before heading south for the Harness Jewels.
Ashburton can't have agreed with him as he galloped at both the workouts prior to the Harness Jewels and on the big day itself.
Expect him to be a major player as a three year old.
3) Gershwin – 2015 Season: 7 starts, 2 wins, 1 seconds, 1 thirds, Lt $7,053
Another smart Muscles Yankee trotter but again his manners deserted him when it counted late in the season.
Galloped in the Harness Jewels for no reason but staged a big recovery to run seventh.
Ran High Gait to a nose in 2:00 at Cambridge which is a good indication of his ability and thereabouts in all his starts in the north prior to heading south to the Harness Jewels.
Another one to watch out for as a three year old.
Selection
Only one horse in the running really and that is Conon Bridge and hard to make a case for any of the others ahead of him.
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