The odds makers certainly have the Kiwis dominating the feature races, though.
One of Australia’s leading reinsman in Chris Alford might hold the key to scuppering any potential Kiwi domination, steering the favourite in the three-year-old trotting fillies Final Reina Danzante for trainer Nicole Molander.
“They do look to have a pretty good batch this year,” Alford said of the Trans-Tasman visitors
“I think Mark’s (Purdon) two-year-olds (Our Waikiki Beach and Our Dream About Me) look head and shoulders above the rest, and I suppose Speeding Spur looks to have a bit on them in the three-year-old trotting final.”
Kiwis High Gait and Missandei have a stranglehold on the two-year-old trotting fillies market, drawn to trail one another and potentially fight out the finish.
Victoria Derby winner Speeding Spur is long odds-on in the three-year-old trotting colts’ race, while Our Waikiki Beach is an unbackable favourite in the baby boys’ pacers’ division.
It’s a similar story in the fillies’ pacing final with Our Dream About Me a long odds-on pop, while The Orange Agent is the benchmark filly in the three-year-old ranks while Start Dreaming and Linda Lovegrace both look to have winning claims.
Follow The Stars has been well-tried to turn the tables on Menin Gate in the three-year-old pacing boys’ final and Conon Bridge is going to start clearly at the top of the market in the juvenile trotting fillies’ final.
It only leaves the three-year-old trotting fillies’ race where an Australian-trained horse is the favourite with Reina Danzante odds-on from barrier four.
“I think she can find the top and be hard to beat, but she doesn’t have to lead,” Alford said.
The only Kiwi-trained filly in that race is Barry Purdon’s Alannah Hall, but she is being kept safe at $11 fixed odds despite a barrier seven draw.
Despite the number of long odds-on favourites from the Land of the Long White Cloud Alford said “strange things tend to happen on big days”.
Alford will also drive Messini in the four-year-old entires and geldings’ final from the pole but the champion reinsman says gate one is not ideal.
“Anywhere but one would have been better because Hectorjayjay should head him off early.”
Asked if the ideal situation would be to get one off early and come around for a shot at the lead Alford said, “That’s not always easy” before adding: “Simone (Walker) would probably have to put in a change of tactics with the stewards if she’s going to hand up”.
The first on a huge 11-race Breeders Crown Finals program is scheduled for 12.33pm.
LEADING KIWI CROWN HOPEFULS
2YO TROTTING FILLIES
High Gait
Missandei
3YO TROTTING COLTS AND GELDINGS
Speeding Spur
2YO COLTS AND GELDINGS
Our Waikiki Beach
2YO FILLIES
Our Dream About Me
3YO FILLIES
Linda Lovegrace
The Orange Agent
Start Dreaming
3YO COLTS AND GELDINGS
Follow The Stars
2YO TROTTING FILLIES
Conon Bridge
Cyclone Chief
3YO TROTTING FILLIES
Alannah Hall
>> Place your bets on the TAB Breeders Crown Finals
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
