While we have been treated to some incredible racing at Addington over the past couple of weeks, the curtain will come down after what looms as a tantalysing card tonight. Marketed as New Zealand Age Group Classics night, the meeting will feature eight group races, including five classics at Group One level. It will again be a big team going around for Diamond Racing, with the New Zealand Pacing Derby for the 3yo’s set to be another classic encounter between Got The Chocolates and Marketplace.
The stable will have the two runners in Race Two, the Group Three “The Gold Bracelet” for the two-year-old trotting fillies. Petite Armour was so game in defeat last week in the Group One Sires Stakes Championship, only conceding late to smart colt Kyvalley Ray. She draws the inside and will start a deserved favourite in what is a smart field of fillies. A repeat of last week’s run will make her the hardest to beat. Stablemate Flying Dreams was first up last week and made a late mistake, but she also has plenty of ability and should not be dismissed either.
I Dream Of Jeannie will contest the “Grand Duchess”, a handicap trot for the mares over the 2600m. She has been very good this campaign against some of the best trotters in commission and from her 10m handicap this evening looks very well placed, especially if she can make one of her electric beginnings. A back in-form Walkinonsunshine may be the toughest to beat if she can replicate an unlucky run on Cup Day.
Ya Rite Darl had no luck in the Ascent on Show Day, but she looks very well placed this evening for her target the Group One Trotting Oaks. Unfortunately, the victim of a bad check on that occasion, the filly has been in career best form this campaign and looks the main challenge to champion Australian filly Tracey The Jet this evening. From the good draw driver John Dunn will have options, but it is likely that he will get the perfect run trailing the Aussie visitor throughout.
Winner of the Nevele R final for the fillies on Cup Day, Celestial Sea again cops a difficult draw to work with in her Group One New Zealand Oaks for the 3yo’s. She was so good winning against a similar line-up ten days ago and no doubt John will be hoping for a genuine tempo again over the 2600m. The Always B Miki filly is proven over the distance and has always appeared a great stayer. If she can get any luck tonight, her opponents will definitely know that she is there. Favourites’ Captain’s Mistress and Arafura both appear well drawn and look toughest to beat.
The Garrards New Zealand Pacing Derby over the 2600m, again gives us the opportunity to see Got The Chocolates and Marketplace do great things. The rivalry is now legend and whoever is able to take out tonight’s Group One feature will finish the year rightly with the title as New Zealand’s top 3yo. Tactics will again be intriguing in the race, but what is certain is that these two great horses will again provide the spectacle that we have come to expect from them. John could not be happier with his charge, that has come through last week’s Velocity at the very top of his game. We wish the pair the very best for tonight’s contest.
The final of the Group One’s is the Christian Cullen 4yo Classic where last week’s New Zealand Cup winner Kingman will start a dominating favourite. The Australian visitor left no excuses for any of his rivals last week over the 3200m and will no doubt relish being back behind the mobile gate tonight. He will need to overcome the outside gate however and a strong field of in-form 4yo pacers, including the Diamond Racing trained It’s Tough. The Bettor’s Delight 4yo is the winner of six of his last seven starts and was again at his best when defeating race rival Sideshow Bruce on Cup Date. This is a big step up in class for the horse, but he is so genuine and is sure to give another great account.
There look few better days than this on the race calendar now. What an exciting night of racing we look to have in store at Addington Raceway tonight.