by Duane Ranger
Fillies and mares racing at Cambridge Raceway tonight have a chance to make a dint in Sex On Fire’s lead at the top, of the North Island Standardbred Breeders Association’s Winter Bonus Series.
Thirty one ‘girls’ (just two fillies) have been accepted for tonight’s first meeting of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Harness Inc meeting.
Last season’s Cambridge Raceway ‘Horse-of-the-Year’ – Lola Jones, should carry on her winning way in the eighth race. She will be looking to win her ninth race on the track.
The seven-year-old daughter of McArdle, will start from the 20m back-mark in the $8,500 Crowe Horwarth Handicap for the R61 to R82 pacers. The Steve Telfer trained and Todd Macfarlane driven brown mare looks the ready-made favourite.
Meanwhile, the Todd Macfarlane trained and Jay Abernethy driven filly Millview Chloe will line up in race four while the Ray Green trained and David Naya, (who is a better winning prospect) lines up in the ninth race.
MacFarlane’s Auckland Reactor – Millview Lily three-year-old qualified 3.4 seconds under the required time at Pukekohe in December. She finished seventh of eight that day and has drawn seven of eight tonight.
However it might pay to note that Macfarlane has elected to drive another debutante, Somebeachsomewhere – The Jewel mare, Bejewelled in the same race.
The four-year-old bay has drawn nicely at two, and qualified when sixth of seven at the Pukekohe Trials on February 13. She went under the required time by 1.6 seconds.
She was also a nice second behind Naya (winning chance race nine) at the Pukekohe Workouts last Saturday.
Naya finished sixth here when resuming from a five month spell at Cambridge Raceway on July 16. She was a beaten favourite that night and will be much better for that run.
The six-race winter bonus series launched for pacing and trotting fillies and mares came about, thanks to the co-operation of both the Auckland Trotting Club and Waikato – Bay Of Plenty Harness.
The Series is being staged at Alexandra Park on July 28, August 11, and August 25; and at Cambridge Raceway on August 3, August 17, and September 7.
Every filly and mare (pacer or trotter, non-winner or race winner) who race at any of these meetings will accumulate points in their respective races.
The points are allocated 10 for first; six for second; three for third; and one for fourth.
Both racing managers at Cambridge Raceway and Alexandra Park were grateful to the NISBA for their support of the Series.
“There was a good spread of points across the board at our meeting last week. We have a first start two-year-old filly who is currently leading.
“That shows that any horse regardless of her grade or rating has an equal chance of taking home the prize,” Cotter said.
He said at the end of the series, the filly or mare with the highest amount of points accrued across the six meetings would receive a $3,000 breeding voucher from the NISBA.
The North Island Standardbred Breeders Association’s Winter Bonus Series for fillies and mares points after one night’s racing:
Sex On Fire 10, Somethingaboutmary 6, Spirit Of Love 6, Moving Money 6, Bronze Over 6, Cmeerock 6, Classy Chapel 3, Jema Jet 3, Shandance 3, Sunset Peak 3, Izinthezone 1, My Cash 1, Savanna 1, Yagunnakissmeornot 1.
The John and Josh Dickie trained Sex On Fire was the only female to win on night one of the Series, at Alexandra Park on July 28.
You would go a long way to see a better debut from a two-year-old filly over a 2200m stand.
The Crazed filly (Crazed’s second NZ winner) and Josh Dickie bolted in by a whopping eight lengths, stopping the clock 2:56.4 (mile rate 2:09) and came home in 60.5 and 30.6.
Meanwhile the NISBA will stage its ‘Stallion Expo’ this Sunday at the Karaka Bloodstock Complex, starting at 10am. Cathy Shaw of the NISBA said morning tea and lunch would be provided.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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