Advance Party downs hot favourite

It wasn’t the result most were expecting at Wyndham yesterday, but the win by Advance Party (Bettor’s Delight) over hot favourite Dreams Are Free served to highlight what a great harness racing record Advance Party has.

Driver Brent Barclay settled Advance Party second last with only Dreams Are Free behind her. With a lap to run Barclay moved his mare forward to sit parked. Dreams Are Free followed and was posted three wide for a short period before sitting parked, giving Advance Party the one one.

Turning in, Dreams Are Free hit the front but Barclay eased Advance Party off his back and these two set down to fight out the finish. Advance Party with her race day fitness came out on top, winning by a head from a game Dreams Are Free with Rightazz closing off late to finish a half a length back in third.

The winning time for the 2400 metre mobile was 2-55.9.

ADVANCE PARTY REPLAY

“Brent said he wanted to be in front of him. Dreams Are Free went super. It was his first up run and they went 2-55 on a day like today and he was stuck out three wide,” Katrina Price, who trains Advance Party with husband John, said.

She added that the hot pace also suited their mare.

“The faster they go she just loves that and she’ll follow any speed. I think she also prefers the distance racing. The mares races are always over a mile. I think she just likes that extra bit of distance.”

It was the four year old’s sixth win and reminded us of her fine qualities.

As a two year old she ran third in the G1 Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic while at three she ran third in the G1 Nevele R Fillies Final behind Millwood Nike and Mantra Blue and second in the G2 Ladyship Stakes.

The Prices had planned to get Advance Party in foal this spring but those plans have been shelved with the owners of stallion Captaintreacherous not allowing mares to race and be served.

“We’ve decided to postpone it for a year. We’ve probably got enough broodmare mares and not enough racehorses (laugher).”

The Winton couple have twelve broodmares heading into this breeding season and their three racehorses Advance Party, Ruby Roe and Chicago Sky will be transferred to Nathan Williamson’s stable shortly as John and Katrina head to the States for two weeks.

Katrina was unsure of where Advance Party will race next.

“She’s going to have to qualify from a stand otherwise there are no options down here. I think she’d go away (from the stand) but it’s the standing (around) at the start that’ll be interesting. There is a mares race at Ashburton so Nathan may take her up for that.”

Two year old filly Chicago Sky, a full sister to multi-millionaire pacer Chicago Bull, heads to the workout today at Wyndham. She’s looked quite smart at trials and workouts.

“She’s super super lazy and still has to work out what it’s all about. She was a really low heart rate and never blows. I think she’ll work it out. She’s one of those Bettor’s Delights that’s very casual. It would be nice to race her at two. It’s interesting because her mother (Chicago Blues) and Chicago Bull got quite racy at home and you had to train them in behind whereas this filly is a wee bit more relaxed.”

Because of flooding in the Otago region, yesterday’s meeting was decimated by a large number of scratchings across the nine race card. It mainly affected the three trotting races with the intermediate trot reduced to just five runners.

Key Canterbury drivers Blair Orange, Sam Ottley, Jonny Cox and Sam Thornley who help drive turnover in the south were unable to get to the meeting and senior drivers Matty and Brad Williamson (Oamaru) along with Kirstin Green and Craig Ferguson (returning from Canterbury) were also halted by the flood waters.

The lack of these driver had a noticeable affect on the days racing with many of the races becoming sedate affairs.

For complete race results, click here

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink