Derby dilemma

The $90,000 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby at Alexandra Park this Friday night has plenty of exposed form and should be one of the harness racing highlights of the night.

Favourites have won the Group One feature in eleven of the last twelve years so that may be a guide for punters.

Robert and Jenna Dunn who won the race last year with Highgrove (Love You), have two fillies in the 2700 metre mobile feature – Sunnys Sister (Majestic Son) and Aardie’s Peak (Peak).

Sunnys Sister in her first run right handed, was back in the field in last Friday night’s Trotters Championship. She looked likely turning in, but peaked half way down the straight, finishing fifth.

“She blew out late in the piece. It looked like she was about to run into it and Johnny (driver John Dunn) said she just levelled out. She’d missed a bit of work because of a slight leg injury that got infected. There was a bit of bruising so it took us a bit of time to get the bruising out. She missed a couple of weeks of training, but we were jogging her” Robert Dunn said.

Dunn believes the longer distance on Friday night will suit Sunnys Sister.

“She’s a great staying filly and we hope that last Friday she was, as they say – ‘short of a gallop’ and I think she’s come on nicely since that run. It’s a tricky draw and I don’t think she can go forward because there’s a bit of gate speed here and there. She’ll probably settle midfield and come into the race late.” 

Aardies Peak was given a nice run by Brent Mangos in the same race and finished just behind her stablemate. She’ll start from the outside of the second row. 

“We didn’t think she’d be able to do that. We were more worried about her trotting all the way. She qualified and won a race in a short time so that was a great run from her. She’s trained on very nicely and worked super this morning (Wednesday).”

Dunn is also looking after Walkinonsunshine (Creatine) for his nephew Tom Bagrie.

“We didn’t give her a run last week because she is a light framed filly. We were going to trial her last week, but we had a horrific week with weather so we just worked her at home. We worked her this morning and she was spot on.”

Walkinonsunshine was an impressive six length winner of the Northern Trotting Oaks three weeks ago and will be driven by Tony Herlihy.

The last filly to win the Great Northern Trotting Derby was Escapee (Sundon) in 2012.

Canterbury trainer Paul Nairn, who won this race in 2010 with Kahdon (Sundon) also has two starters – Confessional and Tectonic (Majestic Son).

Confessional’s winning run in the Trotters Championship was massive. He covered a lot of extra territory before getting to the lead and then going on to win by seven lengths. 

“He’s a good stayer and doesn’t mind doing it a bit tough. He can maintain that high speed for a long distance. He’s come through the race well with no major issues,” Nairn said.

Confessional has drawn the inside of the second row on Friday night.

“If it was 2200 it wouldn’t be quite as good a draw but it’s 2700 so that helps and he’s following out a good one (Lovemeto) who went well in the Sires Stakes so it could work out quite well.” 

Nairn thinks Confessional is a good winning chance.

“The way he won last week, there’s no reason he shouldn’t go good again.”

Tectonic had no luck in the Trotters Championship and was off the track the entire race. Driver Sarah O’Reilly takes the reins again in the Derby.

“He got a bit keen with the false start which didn’t help him. I just haven’t been as happy with him as I could be. A few minor things have set him back this preparation so I’m more hopeful than confident really, although he’s got enough ability if he’s right on the day.”

Nairn says Lovemeto (What The Hill) and Walkinonsunshine appear to be the toughest to beat.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink