Wallis/Hackett team hold big hand in Metro Final

The Waiuku based training partnership of Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett have a strong harness racing line up of four runners in the $35,000 NZ Staff – Northern Metro Series Trotters Final at Alexandra Park tonight.

“They’re all well heading into tonight’s race although we’ll need some luck to go our way” says Wallis.

Starting the 2200 metre race from a 10 metre handicap, Wallis will be driving Aradne (2). The Muscle Mass mare was a winner back in September at this track and trip but has failed to perform to her best in recent races.

“She’s going to need all the shortcuts tonight, so I’ll be looking to sit her in on the fence and hope for some luck,” says Wallis.

The Wallis/Hackett stable’s other three runners all start off the back mark of 20 metres and include Five O’Clock Gerry, Belle Neige, and Viscount Mackendon.

“Five O’Clock Gerry (10) has been racing super lately, he got squeezed up a bit at the start in his last race resulting in a brief gallop but ran on well after getting back in the field with Tony (Cameron) looking after him,” says Wallis, “he’d be one of our better chances tonight.”

The four-year-old What The Hill gelding has recorded two wins and a second placing in his last six starts with his unplaced runs holding merit, including a fifth placing two starts ago after being held up late in the last Northern Metro Trotters Series Final which was taken out by in form stablemate Faith In Manchester. Five O’Clock Gerry is driven tonight by Todd Macfarlane.

Australian mare Belle Neige (12) has performed well since arriving in New Zealand with a fresh up win followed by three third placings from just four starts. Todd Mitchell, who combined with the Wallis/Hackett partnership to score a winning double last week, drives the Love You mare in tonight’s race.

“Last week was her first standing start and she was a little slow away but she fought on well,” says Wallis, “she’s a lovely mare and she should go a good race tonight.”

The three-year-old Viscount Mackendon (13), driven tonight by junior driver Crystal Hackett, is the most lightly raced horse in the field having had just nine starts for two wins and two placings both at this course and distance. The Volstead gelding was a strong winner two starts but was unplaced here last week after being four wide over the last 700 metres.

“I was initially disappointed with his last run but after going back and watching the replay it wasn’t actually too bad, and it was his first time racing out of the maiden and one win grade,” says Wallis, “being off 20 metres he’ll just be driven for luck tonight.”

Later in the evening, Wallis and Hackett also have a strong chance in the Franklin Trotters Country Cup with another Australian horse in Iron Love. The Love You gelding has placed on three occasions from his seven New Zealand starts and his racing form indicates a win shouldn’t be too far away. Iron Love starts tonight’s race off a 20 metre handicap with Crystal Hackett doing the driving.

“He’s been racing well since he’s come over to New Zealand but has been a little pacey in his last couple of starts when he’s had the removeable hood pulled off,” says Wallis, “he just tries to go a bit too quick in a hurry, so we’ve put a fixed hood on him which will hopefully rectify that.”

Meanwhile in the Northern Metro Pacers Final, Ardmore trainer Tony Herlihy starts Franco Santana and Double Parked, both of whom have strong claims in the race.

“They are both in with a show if they get a bit of luck,” says Herlihy, “there’s not a lot between the two of them and with Franco Santana drawing wide (7) and Double Parked (9) on the second row it levels them up a bit.”

Franco Santana, driven tonight by Sailesh Abernethy, has been impressive this campaign with a fresh up second placing followed by consecutive wins at Alexandra Park. While he finished sixth in his last start, he ran onto finish well after getting back in the field from his wide starting draw of eight.

Todd Mitchell takes the reins on Double Parked this week, with the Downbytheseaside gelding also presenting with a strong form line since resuming this campaign. Double Parked cleared maiden ranks two starts ago with a tough win after sitting parked the final lap and holding off challengers to win by a half head. The gelding got no favours in last week’s run when he failed in his bid for the lead before being held up over the final lap when three back on the fence, finally shifting out to find a clear run in the home straight to run on into fourth place just 2.7 lengths from the winner Hezasweetie.

Tonight’s racing at Alexandra Park gets underway at 5.22pm with the first of the first of the Northern Metro Finals being Race four at 7.04pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand