By Michael Guerin
It is advantage Cold Chisel after the barrier draw for $200,000 NZBS Harness Million at Alexandra Park on Friday.
The Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan-trained three-year-old has drawn the ace for the feature of the night as he tries to go back to back after winning the two-year-old version at Addington in October.
If he is able to complete the double he will mirror stablemate and ownership-mate Merlin, who won them both a year ago.
Making the ace draw even better for Cold Chisel is the fact arch rival Chase A Dream, who beat him in the lead-up race at Alexandra Park last Friday, has drawn the outside of the front line.
The Purdon/Phelan stable has a remarkable five of the 13 starters in the 2200m mobile while Mark and Nathan Purdon has another three.
The stable’s luck with barrier draws continued in the three-year-old fillies Harness Million when Kiss also drew the ace but whereas Cold Chisel will start favourite, Coastal Babe is certain to be the hotpot in the fillies race as she drew barrier 2 and looks the certain leader.
The night’s other black type race will see Sunnys Sister start a warm favourite in the $40,000 Fisken And Sons Northern Trotting Breeders Stakes.
Self Assured heads the field for the main open pace but faces a 30m backmark, albeit in a small field and only conceding 10m to the only other open class horse in Mach Shard.
To see the Alexandra Park fields click here
