High “hopes” for 3YO trotters tonight

Ben Hope admits he knows a lot more about one of his three-year-old trotters than the other one heading to Addington tonight.

But he still thinks they can both win.

Hope and father Greg train Habibti Pat (R6, No.7) who resumes in the $60,000 Macca Lodge NZ Sires’ Stakes Classique for the trotting girls tonight while a few races later former northerner Ya Eejit Ya (R9, No.1) makes its stable debut against the older horses.

“He has come down from Sean McCaffrey’s and feels like a really nice young horse,” says Hope of Ya Eejit Ya.

“He seems to have a good record from a mobile and I think he would have to go close as he might have too much speed for many of these if he gets a nice sit.”

Habibti Pat (Father Patrick) was our best juvenile trotting filly last season but had little luck on a northern campaign in the autumn, albeit she finished third to Meant To Be in the Northern Trotting Derby.

Hope says she has prepped well for her return tonight and he still has total confidence in her.

“But much went right for her up north but she still went some brave races.

“She has trialled well this time in. Blair [Orange, driver] was happy with her last trial so we think she is ready to go.”

While the Hopes don’t give Orange too many instructions, Ben says he thinks Habibti Pat is ready to be driven with some confidence tonight.

“I still think she is the best filly in the country.

“Ya Rite Darl has a better draw than us and will be fitter after her last start so we might have to sit parked outside her if she leads.

“But I still think our filly is the one to beat.”

While the Hope trotters will carry plenty of support tonight the highlight of the meeting is a red hot juvenile race which sees Jumal (R8, No.8) try to remain unbeaten against the likes of Special Occasion and Zeus Lightning.

They are anything but the only three winning chances in the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes heat but Jumal opened odds-on with the TAB even from the outside of the front line.

With so much talent inside him it wouldn’t surprise to see him have to driven slighty more conservatively inside the first 800m than when he blasted to the lead last start.

One thing is for sure: we will know a lot more abut the juvenile boys pacing rankings by 8.30pm tonight.

Add in to strong handicap pacing feature that sees Rubira up against Rakero Rocket, Arthur Selby, Hadron Collider and American Me and tonight’s meeting will have some major effects on feature race futures markets for the months to come.

To see Auckland’s fields click here 

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand