Harness racings big day (Harness Jewels) is fast approaching on Saturday (May 30th) at Ashburton and Harnesslink has decided to do a runner by runner preview of each division.
Here is our preview of the Group 1 $100,000 4YO Ruby (Mobile Trot) for four year olds.
1) King Denny – (Majestic Son – A Touch Of Sun by Simon Roydon)
Starts: 23 Wins: 9 Secs: 4 Thirds: 0 Life: $208,554
Last years best three year old who has gone to a higher level this season.
Has high gate speed and tough as old boots so how they beat him from barrier one I don't know.
Has been mixing it with the very best such as Stent and Master Lavros with great credit and from barrier one he looks the winner.
A clear top pick here
2) Belles Son – (Majestic Son– Belle Galleon by Sundon)
Starts: 14 Wins: 7 Secs: 0 Thirds: 0 Life: $56,318
The find of the season amongst the four year old trotters and has gone from strength to strength lately with six consecutive wins, each one better than the last.
He is very tough and showed good speed as well in his last win.
A big player here but hard to see how he rolls King Denny.
A must include for Quinella, trifecta and first four takers
3) Valerie – (Majestic Son – Xena Hest by Pine Chip)
Starts: 21 Wins: 14 Secs: 2 Thirds: 1 Life: $68,797 – Scratched
4) Majestic Time – (Majestic Son – Time To Shine by Sundon)
Starts: 22 Wins: 8 Secs: 5 Thirds:3 Life: $102,161
High class mare who has been in good touch this season without looking as sharp as she did at three.
Did win her last start but that was at Oamaru and not against a field of this quality.
Does like the track and distance but only a trifecta and first four player here.
5) Poppymalda – (Armbro Invasion – In The Sun by Sundon)
Starts: 13 Wins: 5 Secs: 3 Thirds: 1 Life: $30,273
She has had a great last twelve months and looks headed to the top.
Not the complete package yet but getting there slowly.
Does have high speed and may surprise a few here.
Include in first fours.
6) Lucky Fortune – (Brylin Boyz – Howz Lucky by Sundon)
Starts: 19 Wins: 5 Secs: 2 Thirds: 3 Life: $43,500
Showy horse with ability to match who needed a handy draw to be a player here.
Does have high speed but draw makes this very hard for him
Outside first four contender at best here.
7) Harrysul – (Gotta Go Colluct – Smooth Nosey by Smooth Fella)
Starts: 12 Wins: 4 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $21,846
Won four in a row earlier in the season and looked very smart but form has plateaued a bit since then.
Not going bad races but not looking like a Harness Jewels contender either.
Workout at Ashburton last Saturday was okay without being anything special.
Outside first four chance at best
8) Mum's Pride – (Monarchy – Teachers Pride by Evander's Gold)
Starts: 13 Wins: 8 Secs: 1 Thirds: 1 Life: $99,112
Outstanding trotter headed to the top but has a couple of things against him here.
The draw is one issue but more importantly is the setback through illness he suffered lately means he may not strip 100% on Saturday, race fitness wise.
Still the main danger to King Denny but hard to see him beating the favorite due to those issues we mentioned
9) Eyre I Come – (Majestic Son – Landora's Special by Sundon)
Starts: 18 Wins: 3 Secs: 2 Thirds: 1 Life: $40,530
The enigma of this field for sure.
Has a truck load of ability but his manners have let him down on numerous occasions.
Looked to becoming into a nice vein of form but did gallop as the gate went at last Saturdays workouts.
The may have due to the gate being so slow in the run up to the start because he trotted beautifully afterwards.
First four chance if he does everything right
SECOND LINE
10) Zachary Binx – (Sundon – Zsa Zsa by Armbro Invasion)
Starts: 25 Wins: 4 Secs: 2 Thirds: 2 Life: $30,048
Has won four races this season and looked smart doing it but form has dropped away bigtime lately.
Going to get a lovely run on King Denny's back but that won't be enough to make him a contender here.
Hard to have.
11) Father Christmas – (Love You – Juliana by Sundon)
Starts: 19 Wins: 5 Secs: 3 Thirds: 4 Life: $37,380
Smart trotter who has hardly put a foot wrong all season.
May lack a touch of the high speed of some here but will keep going and should get a good run on Belles Son's back.
Outside first four player here.
12) All Royal Gal – (Monarchy – Roydon Action by Sundon)
Starts: 31 Wins: 4 Secs: 4 Thirds: 2 Life: $44,697
Is in career best form at the moment but the draw has ruined her chances.
Needed all favours with the barrier to be a contender here and wide on the second line makes things very difficult.
Hard to have from this barrier.
13) Trouble Rieu – (Great Success – Cong Chua Rieu by Sundon)
Starts: 37 Wins: 7 Secs: 8 Thirds: 6 Life: $76,766
Forget his last start in the slush at Forbury Park.
His five prior runs were all first class and but for the draw he would have been a must include in everything.
Even from out here he has a rough chance of running in four.
The smokey to boost up those first fours
14) Santorini Sunset E1 – (Majestic Son – Sunning by Yankee Reb)
Starts: 23 Wins: 4 Secs: 1 Thirds: 0 Life: $25,475
Not lacking in ability, just in ringcraft at this stage of his career.
Form at the moment is a bit of a concern but can throw in the odd smart run out of the blue when he is on his game.
Starting from the unruly in a field of this strength means it is very hard to see him as a first four contender.
SELECTIONS
Clear first pick is King Denny.
Has gate speed to lead from barrier one and hard to see anything here running past him after that.
Mums Pride and Belles Son look the logical pair to fight out second and third and it is hard to separate the pair to be honest.
After that we would include Majestic Time, Poppymalda, Eyre I Come and Trouble Rieu for trifectas and first fours
Harnesslink Media