Telfers win Pacing Oaks

Harness racing filly Aardiebytheseaside (Downbytheseaside) scored a well-deserved win in the $175,000 G1 Tennant Engineering New Zealand Pacing Oaks at Addington today.

With hot favourite Millwood Nike scratched on Thursday the Steve and Amanda Telfer trained filly who’s been chasing Millwood Nike all season, was given her chance to win the big dance.

In a pre-race interview Amanda Telfer suggested that Aardiebytheseaside may be driven differently today and after coming out of the gate Williams had a good look around before assuming the role of pacemaker.

When favourite Mantra Blue got a nice cart into the race on the back of Cardi B, driver Zachery Butcher was always going to take the lead with Mantra Blue when left without cover. Aardiebytheseaside then got to sit in the trail.

“We discussed the race yesterday and thought that if we trailed the other filly we’d have a good chance of winning,” stable representative Terry Chimel told Harness Racing Unhinged Nigel Armstrong.

Turning in, Mantra Blue headed for home but started to run out to the middle of the track and the more experienced Aardiebytheseaside paced strongly up the inside to get the decision by a nose.

“She’s led a couple of times and hasn’t quite finished the race off as she should have. She’s proven she’s just as good coming off a trail,” Williams said.

AARDIEBYTHESEASIDE REPLAY

The winning time was 3-13.7 with the last 800 metres run in 56.2. Aardiebytheseaside’s stablemate Kalua Flybye was two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Williams credited the team at the Telfer Swannanoa base for today’s Group One win, particularly Chmiel.

“Race day is the only time I sit behind. Terry told me she was spot on and he was dead right,” Williams said.

Owned by Canadian Mike Tanev today was Aardiebytheseaside’s eighth lifetime win and fifth success this season.

“It just good for the horse. She’s been an honest filly since she was two so she deserved a big win,” Amanda Telfer said.

It was the first time the Telfers and Tim Williams have won the time honoured filly’s feature and the fourth Group One training win for Steve and Amanda who’ve trained in partnership for three seasons.  Their other G1 winners have been Allamericanlover, BD Joe and Enjoy Me.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink