Talking Points – The Premier Mares storm out of the gate in 2024

Harness racing strides back into focus at Addington on Friday with the first meeting at the track in the year 2024. It’s a meeting with plenty of intriguing match-ups.

Here we take a look at some of the talking points on the night.

Race 2, the Airpark Canterbury Mobile Pace, shapes as a clash of some very promising horses. All You Need Is Me (Adore Me) and Queen Of Swords are both unbeaten after impressive Nelson victories, they also have the advantage of inside draws, although there’s plenty of genuine speed on the front line with Tide And Time able to fly the gate as well.

The second row sees the Telfer trained Aardie B Miki loom, a daughter of Always B Miki who is unbeaten this time in with sound victories at both Roxburgh and Winton. Throw in both Bryce’s Meddle and Fernetti from wide draws and you have the makings of a slick 1980m mobile contest.

 ALL YOU NEED IS ME DEBUT REPLAY

The 5th of the night, the Hydroflow Mobile Pace, is due to run at 7.15pm and sees the Robert and Jenna Dunn trio of Dalton Shard, Heisenberg, and Mighty Looee go to war with the Hope trained Celtic Spirit and the capable Colin and Julie DeFilippi trained Heza Sport. Dalton Shard impressed recently at Nelson while Heza Sport has shown a liking for the Addington track, winning 6 of his 7 races while taking in the sights at headquarters.

You get the feeling early tactics will decide this contest.

The feature of the night, a Group 2 race, is the Garrard’s Premier Mares Championship Mobile Pace, to be run over the 1980m mobile. The Premier Mares Championship has seen some great champions – Amazing Dream took the title in 2021 while Beaudiene Bad Babe doubled up in 2010 and 2011. It’s Ella (2007, 2008) and the incomparable Blossom Lady, a winner in 1991, 1993, and 1995, only add to the wonderful history of the race.

This year the feature has attracted a quality field.

Lady Of The Light could well have the most impressive recent form line of those assembled but will need to overcome a second-row draw while Manhattan and Lifes A Beach, both known to be able to race the gate, have outside draws on the front row. Other chances exist in the Mark and Nathan Purdon trained Lovestruck (drawn 1) Kahlua Flybye (who may get a run through from an inside second-row draw) and Treacherous Gall, a mare with a potent sprint who may well have the last laugh at them all here.

AMAZING DREAM 2021 MARES CHAMPIONSHIP REPLAY

Other horses to take notice of on Friday would be Xlendi, presented in race 9, who has never been out of the money in 4 race day starts, and the big hitting Bryson DeChambeau in Race 3, a son of American Ideal out of the smart broodmare in Classical.

A great return to Addington.

by Harnesslink Media