Driver John Dunn blames himself for the one obtrusive anomaly in harness racing’s hottest arch rivalry.
Dunn drives Obtained The Candies, the new favorite for tonight’s $300,000 Garrards NZ Derby at Addington (9.07pm) though he’s up towards Market, who has been thought-about superior for a lot of the final yr.
That has modified of their final three clashes and Obtained The Candies landed the killer blow of their private battle when he sat exterior Market and crunched him within the $500,000 THE VELOCITY slot race final Friday.
That brings their private rating card to 9-all after 18 clashes and for over a yr after they have met if Obtained The Candies hasn’t gained he has completed second – With one jarring exception. That was within the Northern Derby at Alexandra Park in April, the one different time the pair have met over a staying distance like tonight’s 2600m cellular.
Market bolted away with that Derby whereas Obtained The Candies dropped out to complete seventh however Dunn says that isn’t indicative of what to anticipate tonight.
“That was my fault within the Northern Derby,” says Dunn.
“I had a crack for the lead early and stored going method too lengthy and he wouldn’t come again to me so he undid himself.
“However that gained’t be occurring this week and I believe he’ll love the space.”
The large query tonight will likely be whether or not, if Market leads as anticipated, driver Craig Ferguson choses at hand that position to Obtained The Candies and attempt to beat him for velocity somewhat than keep in entrance and have the favorite hammering him during the last 800m.
Obtained The Candies must be the favorite after their outcomes this spring however they need to most likely be nearer out there than $1.40 versus $2.60 when you think about their total information.
Dunn finds himself in one other seemingly two-horse race in tonight’s NZ Trotting Oaks with Ya Ceremony Darl drawn 2 alongside final Friday’s THE ASCENT slot race winner Tracy The Jet.
“The draw seems to be good as a result of if we are able to’t lead then we should always have the ability to path her,” says Dunn.
“My filly was jogging when she galloped final week and I believe she will be able to push Tracy The Jet very shut.”
The steady’s Nevele R Filles Remaining winner from final week Celestial Sea faces one other second line draw within the Garrards NZ Oaks, which is a deep and even traditional the place any one in every of six or eight fillies might win relying on tempo or luck.
“She had a troublesome draw final week however it labored out effectively whereas it’s laborious to work out what kind of run she’s going to get this time.
“She will be able to win once more however it gained’t be simple.”
Staff Dunn can begin the evening with a feature-race win as Petite Armour begins odds-on within the Landing Automotive Leases Trot for two-year-old fillies.
“It took a very nice horse (Kyvalley Ray) to beat her final week and he isn’t right here this time so she deserves to be favorite.”
I Dream Of Jeannie (R4, No.14) offers the steady a double-figure worth guess within the mares’ trot whereas Dunn says Scrunch (R12, No.3) is one in every of his higher probabilities of the packed evening within the final race.
“And we now have Its Powerful within the Christian Cullen and he’s flying however we couldn’t have anticipated the sector to come back up like this, with Kingman and some different open class horses so he’s actually up towards it.”
HOW TO PUNT ON TONIGHT’S ADDINGTON FEATURES
Race 2, Petite Armour (No.1): Onerous to go previous the favorite after she was crushed by a superb male trotter final week who isn’t right here this time. Not lengthy odds so possibly greatest in a multi.
Race 4, I Dream Of Jeannie (No.14) and Hidden Expertise (No.16) break up guess: Enormous handicap area so backmarkers dangerous however they’ve been racing in open class and each are double figures. Don’t get carried away although as extremely powerful race.
Race 5, Ripples (No.9): Powerful filly who had little luck final time and will get Luke McCarthy within the sulky. $3 a good worth in small area.
Race 6, Tracy The Jet/Ya Ceremony Darl mounted quinella: The Aussie filly ought to lead and win from the ace after taking The Ascent final week and Ya Ceremony Darl can get straight on her again. So seems to be the quinella and if that isn’t paying sufficient for you the $2.90 for Sprint Dosh Prime 3 is an alternative choice.
Race 7, Arafura (No.5): Actually tough race with some drained fillies from final week and Captain’s Mistress becoming a member of in from barrier 1 however with hardly the perfect prep. Arafura was tremendous coming broad in final week’s Nevele R Remaining and gained Northern Oaks so will get the nod on staying means.
Race 8, Youneverknow (No.6): Make no mistake, Meant To Be is the most effective of those and the one to beat however his $2.15 is not any spoil from the second line whereas Youneverknow continues to enhance and his $2.90 top2 and $1.90 top3 each make actual enchantment if you happen to don’t need to again him to beat the fav.
Race 9, Bettors Anvil (No.2): He gained’t beat the 2 superstars Obtained The Candies and Market, who’re favoured in that order, however Bettors Anvil has the gate velocity to get to markers, observe them round and end Top3 and his $1.60 to take action is a multi should.
Race 10, Kingman (9) and Higher Knuckle Up (6): There are two methods to sort out this. Firstly the TAB are giving a Field Seat Enhance to $1.80 for Kingman when he’ll most likely pay $1.30 so that could be a present for the NZ Cup winner. However Higher Knuckle Up was an enormous fourth coming from final within the NZ Cup, with Leap To Fame and Merlin, between him and Kingman so his $2.40 worth for Top3 could be very truthful.
To see Friday’s fields click on right here
by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand
