The harness racing workouts at Methven are not somewhere you would normally expect to see some of the real stars of the industry in New Zealand but on Saturday they were there in numbers as they prepared for the some of the big age group features over the next month.
The All Star barn at Rolleston brought up ten runners on Saturday and dominated the proceedings most of the day.
The big heat of the day was the last where the best three year old in New Zealand Have Faith In Me was up against stablemates Hug The Wind and Backup as well as the well performed Crackabella.
On a track that was very puggy after a lot of recent rain, Have Faith In Me cruised past his well performed stablemates in the last 50 metres without Tim Williams asking him for a big effort and he looks to be in great shape heading to the Harness Jewels at the end of May.
Hug The Wind looked forward to resume while Backup did all the work in front and was only nailed late.
In another heat the smart two year olds Motu Premier and Lazarus were thrown in against the talented older horse Vice Consul.
While Vice Consul held a small advantage at the line, both Motu Premier and Lazarus made ground well in the trying track conditions and both look on track for the $200,000 sales pace this Saturday.
The two year old trotters High Gait and Missandei both looked to have trained on with Missandei winning a maiden trot heat while High Gait did well to finish close up after sitting parked against some handy intermediate grade trotters.
One of the lesser known of the All Star runners to take the eye was the smart two year old colt Conversion who made ground stylishly from last on the inner on the corner.
A son of Christian Cullen from the former top racemare Coburg 1:56.7 ($205,176) Conversion is one to paste in the hat for future reference.
The one non All Star runner to really take the eye was the one win trotter Monkey's Way who after losing 100 metres at the start with a gallop, caught the field with a lap to go, looped the field to lead and then held them off comfortably in the straight.
The John Aarts trained gelding was very impressive and won't be long adding to his record going by that run.
Harnesslink Media