Addington preview- Echoes of Blossom Lady

Feature harness racing returns to Addington on Friday night with the running of the Garrard’s Premier Mares Championship at Group 2 level.

This is a race that’s had a wonderful record of producing fine winners since the late 80’s with past victors including the great Blossom Lady, who captured the title no less than three times over a five year period (1991,1993,1995) It’s Ella who achieved back-to-back win in 2007 and 2008, and Beaudiene Bad Babe who doubled up in 2010 and 2011.

Recent winners have included Adore Me in 2014 and Dibaba who won the title from Mossdale Rose in 2019. Amazing Dream lifted the silverware last year in a sizzling 2.20.8 proving too strong for both Need You Now and the now USA based flyer in Watch Me Now.

There’s a good deal of depth to the field this year with betting market favouritism currently lying with the Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen trained Bettor Twist. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight will need to overcome a car park draw of #9 in order to win here and has Group performers in Belle Of Montana and the returning Need You Now drawn directly inside of her to complicate matters.

Other runners that demand respect are the Regan Todd trained Bettor Talk Art, who closed well last week behind Manhattan, the Bob Butt trained Callie’s Delight, who, despite a poor barrier at #12 , could still provide an upset if you consider her recent winning form from Omakau, and the Steve and Amanda Telfer trained Allamericanlover, who is in winning touch after having won 3 of her last 4 raceday appearances.

It’s a very good feature and should provide us with a real contest.

Other interest points on the card would be the return of the Greg and Nina Hope trotting star Muscle Mountain in the Coca-Cola Summer Trotting Free-For-All at Group 3 level and the emergence of a 4yr-old trotting mare from the Mark Jones stable named Lil Miss Muscles (Muscle Mass – Lecerne Lil) who does look to have ability.

A strong card at Addington which should make for good viewing.

Ben McMillan

Harnesslink