Harness Million night at Alexandra Park on Friday will highlight harness racing action around the country this week.
The first of the week’s meetings is at Cambridge tonight, followed by Addington tomorrow. Addington will back up two days later with Friday Night Lights action alongside a bumper card at Auckland.
Addington’s feature will be the $30,000 Bob Rochford Seddon Districts Trotters Final while up north the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Fillies Final (7.34pm) is worth $150,000 and will be followed by the $200,000 Final for the Colts and Geldings featuring rising star Marketplace (7.59pm). There will also be the Auckland Co-op Taxis Group 2 City of Auckland Free For All with the likes of Republican Party and Don’t Stop Dreaming as well as the $35,000 Metro Finals for the Trotters and Pacers.
Further south the Central Southland Cup will feature at Winton on Saturday followed by Waimate Cup day on the grass at Oamaru on Sunday.
Each way chances for Herlihy-trained runners at Cambridge tonight
By Brigette Solomon
Auckland based driver Tony Cameron heads to Cambridge today with two runners for his employer Tony Herlihy.
“They both have the ability to be right in it tonight provided they get things right” says Cameron.
The stable starts the evening off with Lovemeagain in the Corporate Marquee Tables For Night of Champions Handicap Trot, the first of two junior driver races for the evening.
“I think she should be right in it, she’s pretty well mannered and we have one of the more experienced junior drivers on her in Crystal Hackett,” says Cameron.
The four-year-old mare’s recent performances at Alexandra Park have been solid, finishing within a few lengths of well performed trotters Belle Neige and Lord Popinjay. Additionally, all three of Lovemeagain’s wins have been at this track and over the 2200 metre trip, the most recent on January 24. She starts tonight’s race off a 15 metre handicap.
The second of the Herlihy trained runners is Master Savoy, driven tonight by Cameron, who starts in the Join Us For Flying Mile Night On March 28th Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.
The three-year-old by Vincent has had just two starts, both at Alexandra Park, for two minor placings. His most recent performance on March 7 saw him run on well to finish in fourth placing just three lengths off the winner after being intractable in the score up losing considerable ground at the start of the race.
“He can be a bit tricky but has ability there if he turns up tonight,” says Cameron, “although he’s drawn well (2), I’ll just be playing it by ear as to how he’s driven early since he’s still got a bit to learn.”
Cameron also partners the James Stephens trained runner Anna in the Garrards Horse & Hound Mobile Pace. The mare scored her maiden victory here back in January and has had just one start since at Alexandra Park where a gallop around the final bend ruled her out of contention.
“She has a few quirks although she did win her maiden here nicely,” says Cameron, “sShe’s starting off the unruly and we’ll be happy enough if she just gets everything right tonight.”
Racing action gets underway tonight at 4.39pm.
