This weeks harness racing meeting at Alexandra Park is one of the best of the season in New Zealand with four Group 1 races on the card.
We thought we would do a runner by runner preview of each of the Group 1 races.
First up is the $80,000 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby
1) Paramount Dream – Starts: 8 Wins: 3 Secs: 0 Thirds: 1 Life: $13,138
Very nice filly who has won three from just eight starts so ability is there.
The draw and Tony Herlihy in the bike are a plus but this race while small in number has huge depth.
Outside first four chance for us in this field.
2) Habibti Ivy – Starts: 8 Wins: 3 Secs: 0 Thirds: 4 Life: $44,484
This filly just continues to get better with every run.
Has used plenty of petrol off the gate to lead in her last two starts but this week from barrier two it will be a lot easier for her to grab the early lead before handing up to either Speeding Spur or Monbet.
A couple here may be half a metre better but it is a fine line and from the draw she is a big chance.
Include in everything.
3) Speeding Spur – Starts: 14 Wins: 8 Secs: 2 Thirds: 2 Life: $141,623
Without a doubt the horse to beat in this race.
Left a touch fresh last week but still had enough in the tank to hold out a game Monbet.
Will be much improved this week and at a distance much more to his liking.
Drawn inside his main danger and has gate speed so the one they have to beat.
4) Monbet – Starts: 13 Wins: 6 Secs: 2 Thirds: 1 Life: $99,041
Outstanding young trotter who started the season in great fashion but an injury prior to the Southern Derby meant he went into that race underdone so that run full of merit.
Great performance last week to sit parked the whole journey and run Speeding Spur to a nose but yet again he has drawn outside that horse.
We think the only way Monbet can beat Speeding Spur over 2700 metres is to beat him out of the gate.
He does have high gate speed but debatable weather he has enough to cross Speeding Spur.
The main danger to the favourite and a definite winning chance.
5) Prince Fearless – Starts: 12 Wins: 3 Secs: 4 Thirds: 0 Life: $102,974
The enigma of this years field for sure and hard to know what to expect.
More than capable of matching it with Speeding Spur and Monbet but his first start right handed last week was not flash with an early gallop.
The funny thing is after the early gallop, Prince Fearless trotted beautifully the Auckland way round and made up a huge amount of ground on a hot pace.
From barrier five Natalie can let him settle early over the 2700 metres and then work into the race and for us he is a must have for quinella,trifecta and first four players.
6) Arya – Starts: 17 Wins: 10 Secs: 3 Thirds: 1 Life: $161,336
After a handful of starts in Australia this season in which she was unbeaten, Arya disappointed first up back in New Zealand in the Trotting Oaks with an average run for fourth.
Much improved last week in the Sires Stakes final where she again ran fourth but in a much stronger field.
Did get a lovely run in the one by one the whole way so hard to see her winning this but a trifecta and first four chance for us.
7) Yagunnakissmeornot – Starts: 15 Wins: 7 Secs: 2 Thirds: 4 Life: $55,458
Never out of the money in her first thirteen starts but her last two have been a touch disappointing.
Should have finished closer than fifth from a soft run on the inner from barrier one last week and hard to see from this weeks draw how she can turn the tables on a few here.
Rough first four player for us at best.
8) Rock Tonight – 14 Wins: 2 Secs: 1 Thirds: 1 Life: $20,666
The ability is not the question here, it is the manners and ringcraft.
Broke twice in the score up last week and then once during the race which at this level is terminal.
Already handicapped by being on the unruly so hard to see him here as a major player here.
Not for us.
SELECTIONS
Top pick from the draw has to be Speeding Spur who over a distance he loves will be very hard to beat.
The clear second pick for us is Monbet who has the all round game to threaten Speeding Spur but needs a touch of luck having drawn outside his main rival.
After that Habibti Ivy and Prince Fearless look the main challengers but hard to see either beating both Speeding Spur and Monbet
Arya as cover for first four players.
Harnesslink Media