The Express rolls on

The form of rising harness racing star Aardie’s Express (Always B Miki) continues and she’s beginning to fashion the record of a good horse.

Going into today’s (Sep. 17) $40,000 G3 Hannon Memorial the four year old mare was the least experienced of the eleven starters with just twelve starts. But she didn’t know that and she duly took out the pacing feature.

“She’s big and exciting and just keeps stepping up to the mark. Hopefully she can stay sound, and we look forward to what’s coming up,” co-trainer Steve Telfer said after her tenth win.

Telfer commented that driver Tim Williams pulled all the right reins.

“It was a great drive from Tim. He stepped her away and got a lovely trail. He said she was a bit hairy down the back, looking at everything. She then rolled to the front before she got onto the back of Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) and Tim said she settled beautifully and travelled up the straight good.”

AARDIES EXPRESS REPLAY

The winning margin was one and a quarter lengths with Republican Party finishing second.

It was a change in luck for Steve and Amanda Telfer as their runner in last year’s Hannon, Alta Wiseguy, (Mach Three) was beaten by Akuta (Bettor’s Delight) by half a head.

Steve says Aardies Express will need to be kept in racing trim and is likely to be quite busy leading into her main target, the G1 New Zealand Cup.

“She’s probably her own worst enemy at the moment because she’s full of herself. She needs a bit of racing so we’ll keep her ticking over. When she’s feeling well she can do a few things wrong (at home), so you have to keep her in cotton wool.”

The next major race for the open class grade pacer is the G2 Canterbury Classic at Addington on September 29^th.

Aardie’s Express is owned by Canadian Mike Tanev.

“He’ll have a few racing on Cup Day with the Nevele R Fillies Final on as well, where he’s got Aardiebytheseaside (Downbytheseaside) racing. We’ll try and get him over, but he says he’s not a great traveller.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink