By Michael Guerin
Two sets of daring connections have dramatically boosted the stake for one of our elite fillies races at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The connections of both Coastal Babe and Ruby Roe have made late payments for the Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes (8.20pm) which will see the stake rise from $70,000 to $100,000.
And it has drawn a field befitting the new stake with the two new shock entries joining Duchess Megxit, Kiss, Akatea, Ultimate Racy Girl and last Friday’s impressive Alexandra Park newcomer All You Need Is Me.
The boosted stake thrilled Sires’ Stakes boss Martin Pierson who says fields of the quality of Friday’s 2200m event will help push the cause for the race to become a Group 1.
“But this it is dependent on many things not least of all the support for the Series from breeders and owners with nominations, sustaining payments etc,” says Pierson.
“A two-year-old prelude has been pencilled in for the Caduceus Series 26 (current 2YO fillies) at Addington on September 6 which highlights the intent of the Caduceus Club to grow their Series along with the NZ Sires’ Stakes Board, who now administer this Series on behalf of the Caduceus Club.”
While Ruby Roe will contest the Ladyship this Friday she will be joined in a rare northern raid for trainer Nathan Williamson by stablemates Flying Ellie and Dreams Are Free.
Flying Ellie will contest Race 3 as her lead-up to next week’s Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks while Dreams Are Free steps straight in against the big boys, after his come from last win at Winton two starts ago. That victory was voted “People’s Choice Best Moment of the Season” at the 2023 Harness Racing Zealand annual awards.
He will take on Chase A Dream and Cold Chisel in a star-studded Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes heat, Race 7 on the card (8.47pm).
The meeting also sees the return of Old Town Road after he missed last Friday’s Founders Cup with a minor hoof issue.
He starts off a 30m handicap but with only four rivals in front of him in the 2700m main handicap pace.
To see Auckland’s fields click here
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