Matt Markham gives his best in all races at Hawera Harness on Sunday, 18 January.
There’s been support in all runs since resuming for the new barn by Joe Kennedy (6) and perhaps it’s today where he finds his winning form again. Not a strong field and if able to do everything right would be powerful to the line and hard to stop.
Selections: 6-9-2-8-5
| 6. Joe Kennedy (0) J: Sailesh Abernethy 8×503T: Derek & Neita Balle |
Money was floating around for Sweet Vintage (2) on debut at Cambridge and while the form reads a zero, the run wasn’t too bad. This is a wide open maiden field and from the good draw looks a prime chance to get a win on the board early in the career.
Selections: 2-1-7-6-9
| 2. Sweet Vintage (2) J: Andre Poutama 0T: Nicky Chilcott |
Not a whole lot of form to speak about around Gwendonline Mary (1) but then again there isn’t for most of the runners in this race. Handy enough last time out and with the aid of the inside draw should be on the speed throughout and a nice each way chance.
Selections: 1-8-9-3-2
| 1. Gwendoline Mary (1) J: Jay Abernethy 04784T: Jay Abernethy |
A lover of grass track racing, Highview Rockn Roll (5) gets into this assignment today beautifully. Can jump and run and be handy throughout and if able to get own terms then would prove very hard to run down in the final stages at a big price.
Selections: 5-13-8-2-4
| 5. Highview Rockn Roll (5) J: Kate Coppins 797p2T: Donald Cossey |
Some handy runs of late in good fields at Auckland from Social Distancing (6) but gets a wee relief here and should be able to make the most of it. Loves the grass and likely to roll forward here and look to take control of things. Hard to catch.
Selections: 6-7-2-3-1
| 6. Social Distancing (6) J: Crystal Hackett 46347T: Andrew Stuart |
A lot of support floating around on debut for The Enigma (10) but proved just that with a below par effort. Not prepared to drop just off that basis of that one run and given the ability shown prior can turn things around here and have the final say.
Selections: 10-2-1-6-4
| 10. The Enigma (0) J: Andre Poutama 7T: Scott Dickson |
The big handicap proved a hill too far for Premium Player (7) at Reefton but his run was still excellent. Trotter in form with the confidence levels right up and generally very good away from the stand. Expect him to land handy enough to the speed and if he can wind up late would have most of these for speed.
Selections: 7-3-11-4-2
| 7. Premium Player (1) J: Peter Ferguson 03115T: Gavin Smith |
Beautifully handicapped today given some of the fields he’s been running around in expect American Me (5) to be hard to beat. Excellent stand start exponent who will eat up his handicap quick and if he was to find the front they’d be doing well to run the former Gr.1 winner down.
Selections: 5-3-4-2-1
| 5. American Me (1) J: Harrison Orange 06377T: Brent & Tim White |
No surprise to see Big Gee (4) deliver a telling victory last time out as he’s always been a pretty handy pacer. Has shown a liking for the grass in the past two so from the draw here should be able to make a strong claim for success in this line up.
Selections: 4-8-6-7-5
| 4. Big Gee (4) J: Kate Coppins 66021T: Michael House |
Plenty to like about all of the recent efforts of Shezabettorgirl (7) and with her high speed she should prove quite dangerous here today. Just needs to find a helmet to follow and with a nice trip can slingshot off the back of them and run on by.
Selections: 7-3-4-6-5
| 7. Shezabettorgirl (7) J: Kate Coppins 53613T: Michael House |