New Zealand two year of the year, 2014/2015

It is quickly coming around to that point of the New Zealand harness racing season where we start to hand out the gongs for best performed in each age group and gait divisions.

Harnesslink thought we would do a review of each of the categories with our view on where the contenders sit.

First up is the two year old colt / gelding section

Contenders

1) Lazarus – 8 starts,    6 wins,    1 seconds,    1 thirds,    Lt $265,562

An outstanding season from start to finish for the son of Bettor's Delight.

Was racing before Christmas and still firing on all cylinders at the end of May at the Harness Jewels.

Beaten twice and both times he had plenty of reasons for the defeat.

Lazarus couldn't get a racestart prior to the Young Guns Final and went in underdone in his first start for over two months and his defeat at Addington where he got shuffled back to last was another case of being a victim of circumstances.

Leading stake earner, never out of the money and maybe just has his nose in front for overall honours.

2) Chase The Dream – 9 starts,    6 wins,    0 seconds,    2 thirds,    Lt $212,026

Another son of Bettor's Delight who was competitive in whatever he started in.

Probably had the best all round game of any two year old this season, being able to stay and sprint better than most.

Squared the season two each with Lazarus but his stablemate had no luck on both occasions whereas Lazarus beat him fair and square in the Harness Jewels.

Can't fault the record but feel he was just that half a metre off Lazarus overall.

Serious contender never the less.

3) Waikiki Beach – 2 starts,    2 wins,    0 seconds,    0 thirds,    Lt $41,881 (NZ)

                            5 starts:    5  wins:   0 seconds:    0 thirds:    Lt $188,000 (AUS)

This Australian bred son of Somebeachsomewhere may be the best two year old that raced in New Zealand this season but we are never going to know because he only had two starts before heading back to his homeland.

No New Zealand Sires Stakes or Harness Jewels performances to compare him to the two main contenders.

Now he has gone on with it in Australia but how do you judge the quality of the opposition he is facing.

Some of it looks decidedly average and we have no doubt that Chase The Dream or Lazarus would have done exactly the same job facing the horses Waikiki Beach has faced.

More than likely the winner of the Australian two year old of the year title which is appropriate as that is where he has done most of his racing and earned most of his money.

Selection

Lazarus

He won the most money in New Zealand and as many races as anyone else who started this season.

Chase The Dream a close second with Waikiki Beach the unknown factor but this award shouldn't be about maybes or guesswork.

Harnesslink Media