Addington Preview – 14th May Premier

Premier harness racing returns to Addington on Friday night as the track hosts a number of feature races.

Here we look into the even fields and high-class battles that’ll keep fans interested.

The first of the feature events on the card comes around at 7.09pm.

The NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Mobile Trot sees the flying Highgrove look to extend his dominance over his peers and he’d only need to produce another run as good as his recent Ashburton victory to do so. As with younger stock race manners will define fortunes here so it’ll be fingers and hooves crossed  for the connections of most of these juveniles. The draws have brought out some interesting potential scenarios too with Toro Stride and One Tree Hill having the opportunity to press forward from inside barriers while the Jason and Megan Teaz trained visitor in Emma Joy faces a frosty welcome to Addington given her #7 alley. All things considered the Dunn trained speed merchant does look the one here.

Race 8, due to be run at 8.10pm, sees the running of the Lone Star Sires Stakes Aged Trotters Classic at Listed level.  It’s a small field but while it might lack for numbers it doesn’t lack for quality.

The aged trotting feature is quickly followed by the 9^th of on the card, the Nevele R Fillies Series Final at Group 1 level.

The last running of the event saw Amazing Dream prove too good for a classy field with the overall time a strong 2.20.3 over the 1980m mobile trip.

The Purdon / Rasmussen partnership has enjoyed a strong presence in the recent history of the race with Elle Mac, Spanish Armada and Dream About Me all having their names etched into the trophy recently. Historic winners of the race include the great Armalight (1980) Tigerish (1992) and the Anthony Butt driven Under Cover Lover who captured the title in 1998.

This edition of the race will see Bettor Twist having to overcome a second row draw to claim victory. That task looks a difficult one given the depth of this field with Bettor Talk Art, Lifes A Beach,Darling Me and Off N Gone all enjoying front line draws. Throw in the Brian and Gareth Hughes trained The Honey Queen and the Mark Jones trained La Rosa and you have a very strong field indeed. Possibly the most competitive field of the night.

The feature racing on the card concludes with the running of the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts and Geldings Mobile Pace which is due to be run and won at 9.40pm.

The champion Krug won the last running of the event in November of last year, other notable names that would catch your eye on the trophy include superstars Changeover (2006) Stunin Cullen (2008) and Lazarus (2015)

It’s an interesting field this time around made a little more interesting by barrier draws.

At first look Akuta would seem favoured to strike the front and possibly keep it from his cosy #4 barrier (subject to emergencies coming out) Cosmic Major,on exposed form, looks hard to beat but will have to earn the silverware here from a second line draw. Other factors in the race could be the strong northern raider Montana D J (drawn #3)  and Franco Mac who’ll be able to take the shortest way around the Addington track from his #1 barrier.

It’s a very good race night on Friday at Addington. Let’s hope the weather is fine and the champions put their best performances onto the track for all to enjoy.

Ben Mcmillan