Stars shine at Addington

Harness racing stars shone their light at Addington tonight, as featured below.

IRT Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Trotters Prelude

The royally bred Habibti Pat (Father Patrick) trained by Greg and Nina Hope appeared to have the wood on her rivals in the two year old trotting ranks as she won her third race in a row.

Although the win was by an impressive length and three quarters, it wasn’t without a few anxious moments. The two year old filly trotted rough just before her head gear was pulled, but to her credit she regained her trotting stride for driver Blair Orange and once she got going again she came away from her rivals.

HABIBTI PAT REPLAY

Her talented mother Habibti Ivy trained by Paul Nairn won nine of her twenty one starts including the New Zealand Trotting Oaks and Anzac Cup. She still holds three New Zealand records.

Orange drove Habibti Ivy in all but one of her wins.

Meanwhile the Hopes have what appears to be another good two year old trotting filly in their ranks.

They qualified a full sister to Muscle Mountain at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday. Odina (Muscle Hill) was bought by Greg at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Sales in Christchurch for $130,000 and syndicated to mainly family members. Odina in the hands of Ben Hope qualified by five and three quarter lengths.

Downbytheseaside ‘Making a Splash’ Two Year Old Fillies Mobile Pace

There was no better way to advertise the race sponsor stallion Downbytheseaside than for one of his progeny to impressively win tonight’s two year old fillies feature.

The Hayden Cullen trained pair Winelight (Downbytheseaside) and General Jen (Captaintreacherous) showed they’ll be serious contenders in the upcoming two year old fillies ranks, quinellaing the 1980 metre pace.

Driver Olivia Thornley tucked Winelight away on the fence and when favourite Gone Surfin came around she was three back on the inside. Turning in, she brought her filly three wide and she came home nicely to beat her stablemate by three quarters of a length.

WINELIGHT REPLAY

The result didn’t surprise her trainer.

“They’ve been trialling up nicely and it was good to see the result on the track. We’ve been getting their fitness up. Winelight carted a flat tyre at the trials the other week for the last 1300 metres so the trial was a bit better than it looked,” Cullen told FNL’s Craig Rail.

It was Winelight’s first start since running fourth in the Leonard Memorial at Addington in April.

“She probably wasn’t 100 percent right in her last couple of starts and was ready to go out. She had a bit of a break and has come back a lot stronger, pacing and steering a lot better.”

General Jen was late getting clear after drawing the inside of the second row but stormed home late.

“It was always going to be difficult from the draw. It was only a starting point tonight. Craig (driver Craig Ferguson) really looked after her and when she found the gap she really came home nicely.”

Winelight paid $31.60 and $5.20 while General Jen paid $4.10.

$60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique 

The masterly skills of Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson were on show tonight when Empire City (Volstead) took out the Macca Lodge Sires’ Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique.

Williamson took the classy filly who last raced at Alexandra Park in May to tonight’s feature without having a trial.

From the outside of the front line May decided to go early and look for the front.

“She actually jogged out of the gate to be fair and I didn’t think she’d cross them that easily. I don’t know what the others were doing but it didn’t feel like we were going very quick,” May said.

From there he dictated the tempo and she held out a late charge from Fear And Faith which got within three quarters of a length.

EMPIRE CITY REPLAY

“For her first run back she’s gone phenomenal. She wasn’t flat up the straight, she was just green and looking at everything. Phil said don’t worry about being voluble. The trainer’s done a super job not taking her to any trials. That’s a pretty good effort.”

Owned by Peter and Janet Argus, Empire City is likely to head south for the $25,000 Southern Trotting Oaks at Ascot Park on 10^th October.

Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stake Two Year Old Colts and Geldings Mobile Pace

In the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stake three year old pacer Marketplace (Bettors Delight) trained by Regan Todd got the chocolates!

Driver Craig Ferguson managed to get a nice run through from the second row and placed Marketplace three back on the inside with favourite Got The Chocolates leading. Straightening up Ferguson pulled the head gear on Marketplace and despite getting his head up and running out he had too much sheer speed. He ran down Got The Chocolates to win by three quarters of a length.

MARKETPLACE REPLAY

The winning time was 2-22.5 with the last half run in 55.5.

“We’ve got a horse here with a ton of ability and we’ve turned down some pretty big bickies for him so the pressure was on a bit. The main thing we wanted was for him to hit the line but to get past Johnny’s horse is a big thrill,” Todd said.

Marketplace’s racing style is very much like his dam Cullen Who and his full brother Who’s Delight.

“He’s still got a lot to learn and I’d like to think he’ll keep improving. We’ll head towards the Harness Million and have a crack at that and keep having a go at these feature races.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink