The New Zealand Sires Stakes two year old fillies heat at tonights harness racing meeting at Addington looked a one filly race on paper in favour of Northern Velocity but as is often the case, racing luck plays a big part on race night.
Luisanabelle Midfrew and Matthew Williamson led early from barrier five while Northern Velocity and Natalie Rasmussen worked forward from barrier seven and found the death seat after 500 metres giving her stablemate Arden's Choice with Mark Purdon in the bike the one by one.
Luisanabelle Midfrew kept up a solid tempo during the mid stages and was still in front as they turned for home.
Try as she might, Northern Velocity couldn't get past the daughter of American Ideal and it was left to her stablemate Arden's Choice to swoop late and grab a game Luisanabelle Midfrew by 3/4 length with a neck back to a game favourite in Northern Velocity.
Arden's Choice paced the 1950 metres in 2:24, a mile rate of 1:58.8 with closing sectionals of 57.5 and 27.4.
It was the daughter of Panspacificflight's first win at her fifth career start but she has shown plenty of promise in her previous four starts.
Two seconds to the very smart Dream About Me were followed by a couple of gallops where things didn't go her way.
Mark Purdon expected an improved run from Arden's Choice this week.
"She looked like she was going to run a place against the colts last week when the gap came but she just tried to go too quickly and galloped.
" We took her hopples up a couple of holes and let her work into it tonight instead of rushing her, Mark said.
Natalie Rasmussen was very happy with the run of the hotpot Northern Velocity.
" She did the most work of any filly in the race and fought on really well for a close third so I was really pleased with her effort, Natalie said.
The All Star barn will take Arden's Choice, Northern Velocity and the unbeaten Dream About Me north for the Sires Stakes Final before returning south for the Harness Jewels.
Harnesslink Media