Wallis/Hackett have huge team in at Alexandra Park

Michelle Wallis says the Golden Gait series is a winner even before the first race has been run.

Wallis and husband Bernie Hackett will have a remarkable 18 harness racing starters on the first ever Golden Gait Finals night, where horses who have competed in enough qualifying races at Alexandra Park get to run for $100,000 in every race, regardless of grade.

“We love the fact the series rewards horses who turn up at Alexandra Park a lot, which ours do,” said Wallis.

“Obviously the stakes are great and I think the fields reflect that, there is some really even racing.”

While having 18 horses throughout the night and five in one race, the main aged trot, will mean all hands on deck Wallis says the logistics aren’t as bad as they could be.

“Some of our drivers like to use their own carts so we don’t need five of our own for that main race and a few of the horses race in owners’ colours so we don’t have to worry about that as much either,” she says.

Pressed for the stable’s best winning chances tonight Wallis says she likes the first race, the TAB Golden Gait Aged R49-R60 Mobile Trot,  but says not in the exact same way the bookies do.

“Shesgold loves the sprint distances so she will be hard to beat but I really can’t split her and Five O’Clock Gerry.

“Gerry might actually have more gate speed and if he can find the front he will be hard to beat,” she says of the $13 chance.

The stable has five in the main trot including favourite Faith In Manchester but while she is in great form she comes with a warning.

“She is racing really well but I am not convinced she is an ideal mobile mile horse,” says Wallis.

“I think there is a fair bit of gate speed around her so I don’t see her leading and that could make it tough.

“I think all five of ours can win and the best of them on ability is All Cashed Up.

“He has had a few wee hoof issues but we are getting on top of them but that is why Crystal (daughter, driver) chose Iron Love, who she said gave her a really good feel last start.”

For complete race entries, click here

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand