Horror run of draws for Merlin

Merlin’s horror run of draws continued in the $100,000 Dawson Harford Taylor Mile at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The Race by betcha third placegetter is the biggest harness racing name backing up from the $1million slot race in this Friday’s mile but has copped the outside of the front line.

That comes after he drew wide in the big race last Friday and the second line in the Flying Mile at Cambridge the week before.

He even drew wide in the free-for-all he was entered for, but didn’t start in, at Menangle last month so has copped four bad draws in a row.

The good news for him is many of the really big names including Leap To Fame, runner-up Chase A Dream and fourth-placed Don Hugo don’t back up this week, leaving Republican Party as the other recent Group 1 winner in the field.

Earlier in the night his stablemate Meant To Be returns in the $75,000 NZBS Harness Millions Trot for his first start as a three-year-old.

Despite the wide draw Merlin is still a $1.85 favourite, with Mo’unga next at $3.40.

The $60,000 Lone Star Lyell Creek is a case of thank goodness for the ex-Aussies and the Hopes as they make up the whole six horse field.

The Hopes have half the field for the 2200m mobile with Muscle Mountain, Midnight Dash and Mr Love up against Not As Promised, Queen Elida and former Aussie trotter Kyvalley Hotspur.

To see the Auckland fields for Friday night click here

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand