By Michael Guerin
One of the last Group 1s of the season is set to have one of our shortest price favourites at pacing’s elite level all year.
Because after Aardie’s Express drew seemingly perfectly at barrier 3 for the $110,000 Woodlands Stud Queen Of Hearts at Alexandra Park on Friday, she is going to dominate betting and be most people’s multi anchor.
The pacing season has not been without its Group 1 hotshots, Millwood Nike being the most obvious, but Aardie’s Express will be long odds-on after she won the lead-up race last Friday against most she meets this week.
On that occasion she was pulled back to last from barrier 8 whereas on Friday it looks likely she can wrest the lead, with Manhattan inside her having gate speed but likely to hand up.
If Manhattan doesn’t that would change the complexion of the race but the market is sure to suggest she will and it would surprise to see Aardie’s Express start much longer than $1.30.
Her case has also been aided by Lady Of The Light, who pushed her so close after leading in the Breeders Stakes last Friday, drawing barrier 8.
The night’s other feature, the $50,000 Thames Members Trot, sees the return of Dream Of You, who looked one of the most promising trotters in the north last campaign.
He won three of his last four for trainer Derek Balle and won at the workouts last week and meets much-improved mare American Muscle and southern mare Resolve, who comes north after a busy last month at Addington.
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