Harness racing quality not quantity on Friday night

It will be select but sweet at Alexandra Park on Friday night as one of the first major meetings of the revised season goes ahead but with not much meat on the bones as far as field sizes go.

But even with all three major races having just six starters each they host some cracking clashes.

Big boy pacers South Coast Arden and Self Assured meet again in the City Of Auckland Free-For-All and most crucially South Coast Arden has drawn barrier 3 versus Self Assured at barrier 4.

That raises the very real possibility of South Coast Arden, who was luckless last Friday at Alexandra Park, leading and his arch rival needing to make some tactical decisions.

The $50,000 Alabar Classic for the three-year-olds looks, on paper, Akuta’s to lose after he drew barrier two but the giant slayer of the Harness Millions in Magic Four is drawn to be on his back with class right across the front line including Franco Indie (5) and Beach Ball (6).

And in the signature race of the night the Peter Breckon Memorial, hot favourite True Fantasy has drawn the outside of the six fillies, suggesting she may not get an easy lead or any lead at all.

She may still be too good but it should make for a better race than her last-start procession in the Harness Millions.

The next heat of the Young Guns for the males sees exciting juveniles Seve (4) and Merlin (8) go head to head again with the former having by far the better of the draws this time.

If Seve was able to win it would give trainer Tony Herlihy a shot at the Young Guns heats double as he has last-start winner The Notorious R B G with a good draw in the fillies heat.

To see the Auckland fields click here!

by MIchael Guerin