Marketplace’s eagerly-awaited return

You know the young guns must be pretty special when they can put an Auckland Cup winner and a former Trotter of the Year in the shade.

But that is what Marketplace (Bettor’s Delight) and to a lesser degree Beside Me (Downbytheseaside) are doing as the northern harness racing season starts to get serious at Alexandra Park tonight.

Tthe best harness horses are starting to come north or return from Australia to count down to Cambridge’s Night Of Champions on April 4 when they hold their two slot races.

That build up brings horses like pacer Republican Party (Auckland Cup) and trotter Oscar Bonavena, who downed champion Just Believe in his last ever-race at Addington in November, back to Alexandra Park tonight.

They face interesting challenges, Republican Party drawn wide in a 1700m mobile while fresh up, which has been a horror recipe for favourite punters on Friday nights recently.

Oscar Bonavena starts off a 30m handicap in the Greenlane Cup just six days after galloping early in the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle to continue a win-or-bust summer.

Ironically he looks more trustworthy from his handicap in a standing start tonight and the composition of the field and staggered handicaps mean he should be on the back of his rivals with less than two laps to go and ultimately be too quick for them.

But for all their proven power and pace the must watch horse at Alexandra Park tonight is Marketplace, making his northern debut in the Alabar Classic.

He won his last six races last season, including the Harness Millions and two Group 1s and he has the x-factor of a horse heading right to the top.

While there seems little doubt he will win a Derby or two in 2025 trainer Regan Todd says the strong gelding is almost on a hiding to nothing as a $1.25 favourite tonight.

“It is so hard for these top horses fresh up,” he says.

“This is the start of a very long three-year-old season and they can’t have hard runs every start.

“He is up here for the Harness Million next week and the Derby so this is a kick off point and I will leave it up to Craig [Ferguson, driver] as to what he does at the start.

“Once I hand him the reins my job is done.”

So don’t be surprised to see Marketplace driven neutrally off the gate before Ferguson decides whether to head forward or drive him with a sit.

Had key rivals Rubira, who was excellent last start, drawn inside Marketplace the favourite would be far more vulnerable and maybe if he gets across him from his wide draw at the start he will test him.

But there is something a bit special about Marketplace, even if it isn’t on full beam tonight.

The question is, at $1.25 to you want to join in for the ride?

Three-year-old pacing filly Beside Me is far better placed to show her absolute best on her northern debut in the Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes even from her second line draw.

She is race hard after thrashing older pacers at Addington last start and that could be a crucial advantage tonight as several of her key rivals tonight in Winelight, Youretheonethatiwant and Arafura are fresh up for the new season while others like Without You and Debbie Lincoln also face second line draws.

It is never easy for South Island horses to win fresh up in Group company at Alexandra Park but Beside Me, with her long stride and coltish physique, looks the perfect filly to pull it off.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand