Harness racing on a Friday doesn’t get much bigger than today, with the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup meeting starting at 2.55pm, followed by 10 $100,000 Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park from 5.16pm.
Star stable set to shine in Golden Gait
By Michael Guerin
The best harness racing stable of the year is set to dominate the code’s newest glamour race night.
Tonight’s Alexandra Park meeting sees the first running of the Golden Gait finals, 10 races worth $100,000 each to reward those horses who have graced The Park often enough to be eligible.
While it is not the final Alexandra Park meeting of 2024, the Auckland Cup is still to come on New Year’s Eve, tonight’s meeting best symbolises the huge strides harness racing had made this year.
And no stable looms larger than the Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan partnership, who have been the undoubted stars of this new harness racing renaissance.
They have won plenty of major races including the $1m Race by Grins with Merlin which helped them earn over $3m in domestic stakes, remarkably a domestic record for Hall Of Fame trainer Barry Purdon in his storied career.
Purdon has had bigger seasons before if you count his Australian exploits but this year stands above all others at home, even dating back to when he and his late father Roy completely ruled the code.
The numbers are stunning: Purdon and Phelan have trained a winner every 3.7 starters including Group 1s with everything from veteran open class pacer Mach Shard to juvenile trotter Meant To Be.
Both race tonight and while the stable only has starters in four of the $100,000 races, their horses being too good for the lower grade races, they are favoured to win all four.
Their night starts in Race 3, the TAB Golden Gait 2YO Mobile Trot with Meant To Be (R3, No.8), our best two-year-old trotter but one still prone to letting his concentration drift.
“He seems to have come back from Christchurch really well so we expect him to race up to his peak,” says Phelan.
They may have the most talented horse in the next, the TAB 2YO Mobile Pace, in filly Youretheonethatiwant (R4, No.3) along with I Got Chills and Confederate but the filly can be tricky and awkward at times, something she overcomes with brilliant late surges.
Tonight she has barrier 3 under the preferential draw and if she shows gate speed she is the one to beat but her male rivals won’t make it easy on her, with the emerging Chase Me her greatest danger.
There should be no such concerns about Duchess Megxit using her draw (3) in the stacked three-year-old pace because while she has been most dazzling when driven with a sit she has reeled off a ballistic 53.8 second last 800m when leading over a sprint trip.
“She can do it either way and she is holding her form great, as well all saw last Friday,” says Phelan in reference to her Queen Of Hearts stunner.
If the race does get run upside down and suit the swoopers the stable are still the ones to beat with Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah their next two best chances.
The race with the most moving parts for the stable is Race 7, the Aged R63-R99 Mobile Pace, in which they have Invisible, shock Taylor Mile/Messenger winner Mach Shard and most importantly Sooner The Bettor.
The latter is a super sprinter and finished second to Leap To Fame in the Miracle Mile in March so if he can cross to the lead early from barrier 6 he should win.
But there is plenty of gate speed on the front line and it is a race that quickly could become more complicated than it looks.
Wallis/Hackett have huge team in at Alexandra Park
By Michael Guerin
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 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.”
HOW TO TACKLE GOLDEN GAIT NIGHT
1: Duchess Megxit (R6, No.3): Draw suggests she should lead and be too fast so is your multi anchor.
2: Meant To Be (R3, No.8): Big brute still learning but if he behaves if the other multi anchor.
3: Pantani (R5, No.11): Has been really hit and miss but if he trots throughout his $7 price will be overs.
4: Diamonds Are Forever (R2, No.4): Hasn’t won for a long time but has gate speed and perfect drawn in the beautiful battler’s race.
5: Sans Au Revoir (R10, No.8): No form but has been in far stronger fields and big driver change with Greg Sugars on board.
Republican Party “won’t die wondering” in Invercargill Cup
By Jonny Turner
Republican Party’s cracking third in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup means there is only one way for his team to play today’s Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup (7.25pm).
The pacer heads south for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in the hope he can follow in the footsteps of his former stablemate Krug who took out the Southland feature in its first running at Group 1 level two years ago.
Republican Party returns to a staying distance in Friday’s 2700m event, with driver Carter Dalgety, on the back of two sprints.
His previous run over a comparable distance came in his barnstorming New Zealand Cup effort, where he charged home from well off the pace to run a meritorious third.
With the five-year-old thriving under the pressure of a quickly run Group 1 over the extreme 3200m trip, the Dalgety camp knows exactly what they want to see in the Invercargill Cup.
“I think we would like to see a genuinely run, testing 2700m more than most camps,” Cran Dalgety said.
“Everybody saw our horse’s New Zealand Cup run, the sectionals he ran were quite extraordinary and even though they don’t pay out on what splits you run we were thrilled.”
“Being a Bettor’s Delight stallion it is logical he would thrive under a good staying test and if things turned that way in Invercargill it would suit us.”
“It might be us that has to inject that speed into the race, we will see how things pan out.”
“But I think it is safe to say they will know we are there, we won’t die wondering.”
Republican Party warmed up for his trip south with a third placing behind race rival Mo’unga over 1980m at Addington last week.
While the effort was solid without being flashy, Dalgety expects much more on Friday.
“That run was a good hit-out before the big dance this week.”
“Being a stallion he was in need of an outing and he has taken a lot of benefit for it.”
“And obviously the step up in distance this week is a big plus.”
“In terms of his overall health, he’s very bright and we couldn’t really be happier with him.”
Republican Party wasn’t the only Invercargill Cup candidate to shine in the New Zealand Cup.
Mo’unga produced an excellent sixth in the Addington feature, charging home late after galloping away and putting himself in a hopeless spot.
The only sighting of the Regan Todd trained pacer since has been at Addington last week where he looked in the zone beating several of his Invercargill Cup rivals, from a mobile beginning.
Mo’unga made a brilliant standing start beginning to win the Kaikoura Cup earlier in the spring and Todd is hopeful his horse can get away similarly at Invercargill.
“It doesn’t really matter where he settles, so long as he gets away that is the more important part,” Todd said.
Both Republican Party and Mo’unga are the only two Invercargill Cup starters on a handicap, starting from 10m behind the front-markers on Friday.
Those front-markers are headed by last start Group 1 winner and rising star Rakero Rebel.
Todd aiming for “special” win with Mo’unga
By Jonny Turner
Regan Todd would love to see a stoic, Southland approach when Mo’unga tackles the Group 1 Ascot Park Hotel Invercargill Cup today.
Todd heads back to his home province hoping his incredible spring and summer can continue, having already bagged two Group 1 titles with his star two-year-old Marketplace.
“It would be special to be able to come home and win this race,” Todd said.
“I saw Krug win when it was first run as a Group 1 and the whole atmosphere on track was incredible.”
“There was a great crowd and they clapped the horse as he came back into the birdcage.”
“The club and everyone has done a great job with this day and it’s important for the game down here that it’s a success.”
“Hopefully there is another great crowd this year and the weather plays ball.”
Mo’unga is as flashy and brilliant as any of today’s Invercargill Cup aspirants.
While Todd is hopeful his pacer can show his brilliance in winning the race, he’s also hopeful the pacer can take a steady approach, especially early in the event.
Mo’unga galloped away in his last standing start in the New Zealand Cup before recovering to run sixth.
So, his first mission is to get away cleanly from his 10m Invercargill Cup handicap for driver Robbie Close.
“He doesn’t need to go out there and begin like a rocket, if he could get away slowly but safely that would be enough,” Todd said, “it is all about getting it right and I think he can.”
Todd is more concerned about what happens after the start of Friday’s feature.
From 10m, the tactics used with those horses off the front line will have a big impact on Mo’unga.
“It is not going to be easy from the 10m because no matter how well you get away you are going to be at the back of the field.”
“You would think one or two of the better front-makers would want to run them along a bit.”
“Hopefully that could play into our hands, it will depend on how the race is run, but it definitely won’t be easy.”
While Todd can’t control the race tempo or the start of the Invercargill Cup, he couldn’t be happier with the factors within his reach.
“The horse is very well, he has actually come on since his win at Addington last week.”
“I couldn’t be happier with him really.”
Todd also brings Lakelsa south for Invercargill Cup Day to compete in the Diamond Creek Farm/ SBSR Robin Dundee Crown for mares.
The trainer has also been thrilled with the horse’s work leading into her trip south.
“She has been working super, she’s got a wide draw but she has got gate speed so she should have a few options.”
Robbie Close will also link up with Lakelsa.
Nathan Williamson has chances galore on Invercargill Cup day
By Jonny Turner
He’s done it there, now he’s going to try to do it here. Again.
With his maiden Group 1 win secured at Addington, Nathan Williamson will attempt to dominate another of Southland’s biggest days in harness racing.
With his Group 1 winning filly Captains Mistress heading his powerful line up, punters will be queuing up to put their faith in the trainer in Race 10, the Forklifts NZ Ltd 2YO Fillies Mobile Pace (7.57pm). She is drawn the outside of the front line.
“She is very classy and I am sure she could do it the hard way and still win,” Williamson said.
“She is at her best if she is able to use her speed and this is her last run of a big campaign before she gets a freshen up.”
“Hopefully she can tuck in somewhere at some stage of the race, but either way her class should take her a long way.”
Always Dreaming also faces starting from the outside of the gate in Race 1, the McKnight and Brown Mobile Pace for the 2Yo Colts and Geldings (2.55pm).
“This is only his fourth run this time in, he had that last start in the Group 1 at Addington and since then he seems to have thrived.”
“I have been really happy with his work and with the drop back in grade and the smaller field he should be hard to beat.”
Ruby Roe is another royal winning hope for Williamson in Friday’s Canada Stakes.
The filly has performed with real merit in recent Group 1 assignments at Addington and she deserves to start a warm favourite.
“She’s been going great races in the best company and I have been really pleased with her.”
“There are a couple of slight concerns in that she hasn’t performed at Ascot Park before and the 1700m there can be tricky.”
“She is obviously going to have to be put in the race at some stage and if she gets a half-decent run I am sure she will go a great race.”
The 1700m sprint trip is also a slight concern for Williamson ahead of Secret Agent Man returning in Friday’s SBSR Sires Stakes Southern Solstice.
“The 1700m is the only slight query because he isn’t a horse I have pushed early.”
“Being that distance, he will need to hold a forward position and more than likely he will be fine.”
“He is a nice horse and I have been really happy with him, I think he will be hard to beat.”
Miraculous undoubtedly cops the worst draw of the Williamson hopefuls, wearing saddlecloth 14 in the Rob McEwan Memorial Mobile Pace (8.51pm).
But his trainer thinks he can overcome it.
“The draw obviously makes things tough for him, but he’s a classy horse and if he gets the right sort of run into it he should be right there.”
The winning chances don’t stop there for Williamson, with Hidden Talent and Flying Without Wings in the Group 3 Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes, as well as Sweet Sue and Ultimate Weapon also stepping out at Ascot Park.
