Harness racings big day (Harness Jewels) next Saturday (May 30th) at Ashburton promises to be a beauty and Harnesslink has decided to do a runner by runner preview of each division.
Here is our preview of the Group 1 $150,000 3YO Diamond for three year old fillies.
1) On The Town – (Bettor's Delight – Funontherun by In The Pocket)
Starts: 10 Wins: 2 Secs: 1 Thirds: 3 Life: $27,710
Her first few runs were outstanding but she is not going like that at the moment.
Will get the trail behind The Orange Agent but don't think that will be enough to make her a first four player.
Hard to see in four
2) The Orange Agent – (American Ideal – Lady Fingers by Artiscape)
Starts: 16 Wins: 10 Secs:2 Thirds: 0 Life: $262,312
The best filly in the race and has the draw to prove it here.
Will lead and hard to see how they beat her from in front.
Can real off sub 55 half miles with ease so this race looks tailor made for her.
The standout in this field from the draw and should win.
3) Start Dreaming – (American Ideal – Simply Devine by In The Pocket)
Starts: 8 Wins: 4 Secs: 1 Thirds: 1 Life: $64,150
Over raced badly in the New Zealand Oaks at Addington and dropped out
Great second in the Northern Oaks followed by three effortless wins prior to her Addington run showed she is a high class filly.
Great trainer so expect her to be a lot more tractable come Saturday.
Definite trifecta and first four chance.
4) Glenferrie Bronte – (Changeover – Equus Francoe by Falcon Seelster)
Starts: 9 Wins: 5 Secs: 1 Thirds: 2 Life: $56,481
Talented Australian raider but she has picked a bad year to cross the Tasman.
Fight For Glory put the top Australian fillies to the sword in the New South Wales Oaks and she is not the best here.
Outside first four player for us
5) Better B Amazed – (Bettor's Delight – Amazed by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 14 Wins: 7 Secs: 1 Thirds: 4 Life: $54,732
Talented filly who has won seven from just fourteen starts.
Sat parked for a fair way in the Oaks then came out and sat parked again with a lap to go before being pushed back through the field and then finished on again for sixth.
Lot of merit in the run
Has gate speed to get handy early and a outside first four player for us
6) Rocker Band – (Rocknroll Hanover – Mainland Banner by Christian Cullen)
Starts: 8 Wins: 3 Secs: 2 Thirds: 1 Life: $33,549
Put together a string of smart performances before failing badly in the Southland Oaks when off colour at her last start.
Blew out late on Saturday at the workouts but up against some smart four year olds in her heat and wasn't far away in a 1:54.9 mile.
At her best she would be a first four player but may be a run short.
7) Tintinara E1 – (Falcon Seelster – Arden's Fame by In The Pocket)
Starts: 11 Wins: 3 Secs: 4 Thirds: 3 Life: $23,369
Has only been out of the money once in her 11 start career to date but yet to face fillies of this class.
Draw makes it very hard to see her as a player even if she did get back into the field.
8) Democrat Party – (American Ideal – Champagne Party by Soky's Atom)
Starts: 17 Wins: 3 Secs: 6 Thirds: 3 Life: $186,024
Placed in both the Nevele R Fillies Final and the New Zealand Oaks but both times it was after a soft run off a cosy draw.
Very classy filly nonetheless and with Zac Butcher in the bike she won't lack for anything on the driver front.
Will need a bit of luck from out here but has the class to be a trifecta and first four player.
9) Supersonic Miss – (Mach Three – Bella Joy by Village Jasper)
Starts: 18 Wins: 6 Secs: 4 Thirds: 3 Life: $208,934
Has had no luck lately with draws or in the running.
Outstanding filly at her peak and just needs a little bit of luck from out here to be a player.
Won the two year old Jewels from the second line so a must include for trifecta and first four takers
SECOND LINE
10) Linda Lovegrace – (Bettor's Delight – Linda Grace by In The Pocket)
Starts: 21 Wins: 6 Secs: 5 Thirds: 3 Life: $185,759
Has taken most of this season to come back to her best from a long two year old campaign.
Her last three runs have all been full of merit and from the draw she should be no worst than three deep on the inner.
That makes her a must include for trifecta and first four takers.
11) Fight For Glory – (Art Major – Breath Of Life by Village Jasper)
Starts: 19 Wins: 9 Secs: 7 Thirds: 0 Life: $457,425
Outstanding filly who has been unfortunate enough to be a three year old in the same year as The Orange Agent.
Reverse the draws with The Orange Agent and it would be an interesting contest but the way the draws have come out means she is up against it to beat her arch rival.
Looks the quinella with The Orange Agent but hard to see her sitting outside her and beating her.
12) Princess Arts – (Art Major – Natal Franco by Badlands Hanover)
Starts: 12 Wins: 3 Secs: 1 Thirds: 2 Life: $25,302
Has been going good all season but at a racing level below what she is now facing.
Needed a handy front line draw to be a first four chance here.
Therefore it is hard to make a case for her as a first four chance.
13) Change The Rulz – (Changeover – Victoria Rulz by Badlands Hanover)
Starts: 19 Wins: 4 Secs: 1 Thirds: 5 Life: $31,168
Another filly who has had a very good season away from the top liners.
Her last two runs against most of these running here have resulted in a ninth and an eighth so hard to see from this draw how she can be a threat to the favourites.
Hard to make a case for her as a first four candidate
14) Classical Art – (Mach Three – Arts Lover by Artsplace)
Starts: 12 Wins: 5 Secs: 2 Thirds: 0 Life: $77,943
Worst possible draw for a big free going filly who likes to run on the speed.
Can over race in the field and can be a bit tempremental if things don't go her own way.
To many negatives for her to be a major player here.
Outside first four player at best
SELECTIONS
The clear first pick from the draw is The Orange Agent.
Brilliant front runner so this race looks hers to lose
The clear second pick is the New Zealand Oaks winner Fight For Glory.
Is going to have to sit outside The Orange Agent and try to wear her down which looks a big hurdle.
For trifecta and first four players, include Start Dreaming, Democrat Party, Supersonic Miss and Linda Lovegrace.
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