Purdon, Phelan, have good chances in feature races

Harness racing heads into another feature night on Friday (Nov. 25) with plenty of appetising races programmed for Addington.

In the Hilarious Guest Three Year Old Fillies Classic, star three year old filly True Fantasy (Bettor’s Delight) draws the outside of the front row due to the preferential draw system. But having been the dominant force in this year’s crop of three year old fillies she should still start favourite.

A handful of fillies though should fight out the minor placing and may have an outside chance of upsetting the favourite.

Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have two starters, Miki Montana (Always B Miki) and Artisan (Art Major) in Friday night’s fillies feature. They have contrasting barrier draws with Miki Montana drawing one and Artisan three on the second row.

“She (Miki Montana) has shown gate speed at the trials. We’ll come out and see where we end up,” Phelan said.

At her last start Miki Montana made up a stack of ground in the Nevele R Fillies Final on Cup Day.

“She’d worked her way up to that race and she probably went a bit better than we thought. She’s gone good races up north and has just taken a bit longer to come up this time in.”

Artisan battled into sixth in the Fillies Final, just a bit over seven lengths from the winner.

“She’s honest and just needs a little bit of luck and she needs one run at them. So the second row could be a good draw for her.”  

Purdon and Phelan also have two runners – Southern Diamond (Creatine) and Halberg (Father Patrick) in the $65,000 Group Two Lone Star Sires Stakes Two Year Old Championship. 

Both have stayed in Canterbury since racing at Addington on 14th of October.

“It’s been a long time to wait for these races that’s for sure which is not ideal. But they’re the cards we’ve been dealt. It is too long for them.”

Their preparation for Friday nights juvenile trotting feature includes a trial at Ashburton early last week where Southern Diamond and Halberg finished on terms.

“We’re happy with their trials and their work’s been great since. Honestly there’s not too much between them and it’s based on the runs they get,” Phelan told me when comparing the two. 

Phelan see’s Southern Diamond with his inside draw as being perhaps the better of the two for this race.  

Southern Diamond (9th) and Halberg (11th) both sit inside the top thirteen eligible for the $100,0000 Ace of Clubs on Grand Prix Day at Addington on Sunday 4th December. 

Meanwhile Phelan says star pacing colt Merlin (Art Major) has returned home to Auckland.

“He’ll have two or three weeks off and get ready for the Harness Millions in Auckland in February. I was rapt with his last run (Sires Stakes Final). The draw was the turning of the tables really. His run was outstanding, and he couldn’t have gone any better. A couple of things didn’t go his way, but he still fought to the line. He’s a good horse.”  

For complete Addington race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink