One of the highlights of the harness racing season each year is the emergence of the juveniles in the Young Guns series at Alexandra Park Auckland.
With each edition of this series we are introduced to some of the future stars of the sport and this year has been no exception.
This is our runner by runner preview of this years $80,000 Young Guns Fillies Final at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
1) Goodlookingbabe – By Mach Three – Trainer – Geoff Small
Showed speed to lead from a similar draw last week but then galloped on the first bend.
Trial and workout form had been promising before her debut so can't completely discount.
Great trainer/driver combination helps her as well
Throw in your first fours for some value.
2) Poppy Maguire – By American Ideal – Trainer – Tony Herlihy
Didn't help herself on debut with an early gallop and managed to end up four deep on the inner from barrier seven.
Racing greenly at times during the running as well so overall went okay.
Trial and workout form prior to debut had been passable without looking anything special.
Not for us.
3) Nek Time – By Gotta Go Collect – Trainers – Terry + Glenys Chmiel
Very good second first up but galloped last week after appearing to get her head round on the first bend.
Just beaten on debut by Gamma Lady so no doubting the ability is there.
From the draw and with a week to correct the running out problem from last week, Nek Time looms as a genuine trifecta and first four player.
4) Ideal Eagle – By American Ideal – Trainer – Barry Purdon
Her three runs to date have been a bit of a mixture with two passable runs and one complete disaster.
Has a great trainer/driver combination in her corner and they have been red hot this season in the big races but even they will struggle to get her home in this.
Shows enough to keep you interested but not enough to get excited about.
Rough first four player at best
5) Lickle Lickle – By Lis Mara – Trainer – David Kaa
First up effort at Auckland had merit as she worked forward from barrier eight to death seat for most of the race but as you would expect after that trip she only battled in the straight.
Went down to Manawatu for an easy maiden win but not sure how helpful that run is when assessing her chances here.
Has had plenty of practice at workouts for this and going near enough
Rough first four chance with run to suit.
6) Machineguns N Gems – Scratched
7) Arden's Choice – By Panspacificflight – Trainers – Mark Purdon * Natalie Rasmussen
Two great runs to kick off her racing career and both times from bad draws to boot.
She looks to have an all round game displaying both speed and grit in both starts.
Didn't look entirely comfortable last week so that experience should help her here.
Looks to be one of only two winning chances for us.
8) Dream About Me – Bettor's Delight – Trainers – Mark Purdon * Natalie Rasmussen
Two starts for two wins says it all really for this beautifully bred filly.
Stunning debut win at Timaru in a time just outside the New Zealand record for 2000 metres and followed that up with a gutsy win at Alexandra Park last week when she got her head round badly the whole race but still had enough in the tank to get up and nail the win.
Boring pole goes on this week and she is definitely the one all the others have to beat.
Top pick for us
9) Killer Queen – By Rock N Roll Heaven – Trainer – Ray Green
This is a filly that has promised a lot but has yet to deliver.
Held in very high regard by the stable and has shown glimpses why at times at trials and workouts but not yet on race day.
There is no doubting the ability but the ring craft is still not perfect.
Still a genuine trifecta and first four player for us.
10) Artful – By Art Major – Trainer Robert Dunn
Very inexperienced filly who was passable at best in her debut run last week.
We think she is a work in progress and this series may be just be a bit soon for her.
Draw and strength of field means we can't see her being a player here.
Not for us
11) Gamma Lady – By Mach Three – Trainer – Brian Hughes
Stylish debut win at Alexandra Park and backed that up with a top effort for third last week after doing plenty of work early to find the top.
Draw not as bad as it seems as she follows out Nek Time who does leave the gate so should get a lovely run through.
Just looks a touch below the All Star pair but clearly the best of the rest.
Quinella, Trifecta and first four player for us.
12) Girls Are Bettor By Bettors Delight – Trainer – Brian Hughes
Promising debut run for fourth but had a gallop from the second line here last week.
Her trial and workout runs over the last three months have been excellent and but for the draw she would have been a first four player for us.
Does have Maurice McKendry in the bike but still hard to see her in four from her draw.
Selections
Even from the outside of the front row, we think Dream About Me is the one to beat.
She didn't nothing right at her attempt right handed last week yet still had the cheek to get up and win.
Addition of a pole will help her this week and she looks very hard to roll.
Arden's Choice is the obvious danger here with two seconds to date to Dream About Me.
Plenty to like about last weeks run and she appears the main threat to the favourite.
Gamma Lady is clearly third best in our books and capable of splitting the favoured pair with a run to suit.
Throw in Nek Time, Killer Queen and Goodlookingbabe for trifecta and first four players.
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