By Matt Markham
One of the form races of Cup Week harness racing action looks set to not even come at Addington.
Instead it takes centre stage at today’s Ashburton meeting where a very good field of maiden pacers go head-to-head in Race 5 – potentially become the Mysky race of the week with plenty of the field likely to win races over the coming months.
Undoubtedly leading the charge will be quality three-year-old Alta Las Vegas who was good enough to make the ballot for Tuesday’s Group I Sires’ Stakes Series Final.
His last two starts have resulted in a second behind Sparkling Delight a fortnight ago – form franked by his good performance on Tuesday, while two starts back he finished fourth behind Lazarus who was victorious in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
The Robert Dunn trained pacer is owned by Mid Canterbury locals, Stuart and Elizabeth Leadley who have been enjoying a great run of form with their horses over the past few years.
Drawn barrier one Alta Las Vegas should be able to take up a forward position and should prove hard to beat although the challenge won’t be easy with some stiff opposition set to make life tough for him.
Leading the charge will be the Paul Court trained, Hypervelocity.
He was a massive third at the Ashburton track on Labour Day when beaten short margins by G I Joe and He Can Fly.
Drawn handily he too should be near to the speed for driver Ricky May. Laurence Hanrahan will line up stable debutant, Novak, who makes his debut for the Ashburton trainer after beginning his career in the Price stable in Southland where he had one start for a second placing.
The four-year-old gelding will be handled by Stephen McNally. Cran Dalgety and Dexter Dunn will provide the other leading chance in the maiden mobile with Kompressor who was very good when runner-up last week behind Star Fantasy at Rangiora.
Dalgety will have eight runners from his stable at the meeting with Il Divo, Benchmark, Secret Notion, Kompressor all winning hopes while his two representatives in the junior drivers race, Chevron’s Easy and Media Queen, are both capable of winning with the right amount of luck.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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