Harness racings big day (Harness Jewels) on Saturday (May 30th) at Ashburton is nearly here and Harnesslink is doing a runner by runner preview of each division.
Here is our preview of the Group 1 $150,000 3YO Emerald for three year old colts and geldings.
1) Hug The Wind – (Bettor's Delight – Dreaming Spires by Dream Away)
Starts: 16 Wins: 6 Secs: 6 Thirds: 2 Life: $252,457
His last start win at Addington was sensational, sitting three wide for most of the last mile which he ran in 1:55 even.
The two runs before that after he came back from Australia were poor by his high standards but the last run showed he was right on song for this.
Has high gate speed so can make his own luck from here.
Include in everything
2) Livura – (Live Or Die – Zitura by Union Guy) (Emerg 1)
Starts: 20 Wins: 3 Secs: 1 Thirds: 4 Life: $34,077
Nice three year old who has been doing a good job in grade racing lately.
Huge step up here in class and even if he made it back into the field from the ballot, it is very hard to see him being a first four contender in this race
3) Art Union – (Art Major – Sparks A Flyin by Sands A Flyin)
Starts: 28 Wins: 13 Secs: 5 Thirds: 2 Life: $167,664
Was in great form in the spring but as the season has gone on he has not maintained that level.
Likes to lead and set the tempo but won't get the lead off Hug The Wind so will have to settle in the running line.
Hard to make a case in his present form for him to be a major player here even from the draw.
First four player at best here.
4) Have Faith In Me – (Bettor's Delight – Scuse Me by BG's Bunny)
Starts: 12 Wins: 7 Secs: 2 Thirds: 0 Life: $475,381
The best three year old in the country and ready to prove the doubters wrong once again on Saturday
This is his first start for two months and a lot of pundits have suggested he is vulnerable in this race but his workout win last Saturday was super impressive and he looks ready to resume where he left off in the Derby.
Has the best all round game of the favoured runners and is the clear top pick here.
5) Follow The Stars – (Art Major – Smyrna Duruisseau by Cams Card Shark)
Starts: 22 Wins: 16 Secs: 5 Thirds: 0 Life: $664,452
Outstanding three year old who has been unlucky enough to strike a near champion in Have Faith In Me in his year.
Has only missed a place once in twenty two starts and is race fit after a short Australian campaign.
Have Faith In Me has had the wood on him this season when they have met and the gap has got bigger as the season has gone on.
Clear second pick here but struggle to see how he beats Have Faith In Me
6) The Faithful – (Bettor's Delight – Running On Faith by Soky's Atom)
Starts: 14 Wins: 3 Secs: 3 Thirds: 1 Life: $38,855
Has fashioned a tidy record in grade racing and not disgraced in the Northern Derby.
However his form appears to have tapered off a touch lately.
Great trainer/driver combo means you should never write him off completely but outside first four player at best here
7) Bettor Spirits – (Bettor's Delight – Spirit Of Eros by In The Pocket)
Starts: 31 Wins: 7 Secs: 4 Thirds: 7 Life: $136,234
Very smart northerner who has been unlucky to draw wide outside of the favourites.
Very consistent and has an all round game but the draw is just a killer here.
Will have to go back or slide across and give the favourites a start and from there it is hard to see how he is a major contender.
Outside first four contender here.
8) Chachingchaching – (Mach Three – Affairs Of State by Presidential Ball)
Starts: 24 Wins: 6 Secs: 3 Thirds: 2 Life: $101,579
Another smart northerner who has been given the visitors draw here.
His form turned around mid season when David Butcher became his regular driver and he has been a different horse since.
Another horse that if he had drawn well he would have been a strong first four player but from out here he is an outside first four player at best.
9) Burnaholeinmypocket – (Bettor's Delight – Kelly Maguire by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 14 Wins: 6 Secs: 4 Thirds: 1 Life: $54,593
Smart Australian raider who has blazing gate speed but that isn't going to help him much out here in the grandstand.
He is dammed if he goes forward and he is dammed if he doesn't.
With a good draw he would have really put some spark into this race but hard to make a case for him from out here.
First four player at best from the draw
SECOND LINE
10) Brilliant Strike – (Shadow Play – Christian Star by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 18 Wins: 7 Secs: 2 Thirds: 5 Life: $84,180
Has had a big season, mixing it with the very best and proving very competitive.
Late change of driver a bit hard to understand but loses nothing with Blair Orange in the bike.
Much prefer him over a distance a lot longer than this and even though he should end up only three back on the inner at worst, you just get the feeling his best races this season are behind him.
First four contender at best
11) Titan Banner – (Art Major – Corporate Banner by Soky's Atom)
Starts: 9 Wins: 5 Secs: 3 Thirds: 0 Life: $29,291
Smart horse in the making here but this race against the best three year olds in the country may just be coming a bit early in his career for him to shine.
Really good second to Hug The Wind at his last start but the winner was clearly superior on that occasion.
Dexter has stuck with Art Union as you would expect so he has a new driver here in Ricky May so no difference there.
Outside first four player at best
12) Prince Of Pops – (Changeover – Slangevar by Cameleon)
Starts: 24 Wins: 6 Secs: 5 Thirds: 1 Life: $61,597
Has furnished a tidy record but mostly away from the better three year olds.
Not sure that a mile is a distance that suits his talents either and from wide on the second line he really has his work cut out here.
Hard to see how he could run in four from the draw.
13) Lightfingered – (Bettor's Delight – La Filou by In The Pocket)
Starts: 8 Wins: 4 Secs: 0 Thirds: 2 Life: $31,801
The baby of the All Stars barn contingent but has fashioned a tidy record to date.
Didn't look happy in the slush at Addington at his last start and prior runs were full of merit.
However the draw has taken him out of the race here and hard to see how he gets into the race from wide on the second line.
14) Little Rascal – (Panspacificflight – Evita Franco by Live Or Die)
Starts: 17 Wins: 4 Secs: 4 Thirds:3 Life: $49,292
Been based in the north most of the season and has been racing really well for a while now.
Better with one run at them but hard to see from the outside of the second line how that will play out here.
Draw has been terribly unkind and as a result it is hard to see how he gets into the race from out here.
SELECTIONS
Have Faith In Me is the clear first pick here.
A lot of pundits are suggesting that Follow The Stars has closed the gap on his stablemate but that wasn't evident at the workouts last Saturday.
Follow The Stars is just as clearly second pick and from the draws it does look a two horse war.
The way the draws have come out, Hug The Wind has every opportunity of making this an All Star trifecta.
His last win at Addington was his best run this season and makes him a serious contender here.
For trifecta and first four takers, throw in Art Union, Bettor Spirits, Burnaholeinmypocket and Brilliant Strike.
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