First New Zealand 2yo race of 2022

Friday night at Alexandra Park will see the first two-year-old race of the 2022 harness racing season get under way.

Most interest will centre around runner number seven, the first of the progeny of star pacer Vincent to race in New Zealand.  Named Seve, the colt is out of River Belle (Red River Hanover) and is a half brother to the good Tony Herilhy performer Blazen River (Courage Under Fire), the winner of five races from 15 starts.

Seve has been very good at recent trials and workouts which has not gone unnoticed by TAB bookmakers who have opened Seve up a firm favourite on the New Zealand TAB fixed odds win market at $1.80.  Seve will be driven by Herlihy who also trains number one in the race The Notorious R G B (He’s Watching-Alesandra Ambrosio). The Notorious R G B is unbeaten at trials and has the draw to use her early speed.

Ray Green and Lincoln Farms have three of the seven runners entered and of the three Green runners, the TAB have favoured Lincoln River (Bettor’s Delight – Ideal Belle) at $8.00 off the back of some tidy trial and workout form. The showy colt has the services of ace driver Maurice McKendry.  Lincoln River is out of the good race mare Ideal Belle who won seven races including the NZ Oaks and was purchased by Lincoln Farms for $120,000 at the 2021 yearling sale at Karaka.

Another Green runner Frankie Major (Art Major – Delight Me) who was purchased for $60,000 at the 2021 yearling sales in Christchurch, has also been performing ok at trials.  Frankie Major has drawn barrier three and will be driven by David Butcher.

The last of the Green runners has drawn the worst out of that stable at barrier six. Beaudine Rocknroll (A Rocknroll Dance-Beaudiene Babe) is part owned by leviathan owner Merv Butterworth and has been performing well at trials and workouts. Beaudine Rocknroll will be driven by Todd Mitchell.

Robin Hood (Sweet Lou) for trainers Graeme Rogerson & Dylan Ferguson and Two Eye See (Art Major) for Logan Hollis & Shane Robertson make up the remainder of the field.

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Harnesslink Media