Harness
Australian Harness Racing Preview – November 21/22
An ideal draw should give dual Oaks winner Soho Americano every chance to land another feature in Saturday’s Vicbred Super Series finals at Melton where her trainer Micheal Stanley could be set for a big night.
Already the winner of the Victorian and Queensland Oaks this season, Soho Americano returns to the front row in the three-year-old fillies final and is an early $1.55 elect with the TAB, one of two favourites for Stanley across the four pacing finals.
Stanley has had a wonderful season with his juveniles and looks the one to beat in the two-year-old colts and geldings decider where the stable has three qualifiers.
Soho Trump is the early favourite despite his first defeat last week where he had to work to find the front before sticking on for fourth. He looked good when leading to win his heat prior and should be peaking third-up.
Stablemate Soho Park Avenue looks a big danger after he came from a wide barrier in last week's semi-final and did a good job to chase along the sprint lane for a 1.4m second.
He had won four in a row prior including the Shakamaker Classic at Melton when he led from Saturday's barrier and kept going.
Soho Charmer draws on the second line but must be respected having come from a similar barrier to win last week, adding to a string of top-two finishes.
Premier trainer Emma Stewart in no stranger to Vicbred Super Series success and looks set for more on Saturday.
The stable has 14 started across the four pacing finals and while some have copped challenging draws the barn has the early favourite in two them.
Stewart looks particularly dominant in the two-year-old fillies final with five runners including the top three in the market.
The marble has fallen nicely for Pre Eminant and that sees her as the one to beat but the undefeated former Tasmanian Arrhythmia should enjoy a soft run from the inside of the back row and with the sprint lane in play could maintain her perfect record.
Stewart is also favoured to win the three-year-old colts and geldings decider where her charge Captain Perfect draws on the back row but brings the right form, winning his semi-final last week and coming from this row for a terrific second in last month's Victoria Derby.
Keayang Zahara is the star performer in the trotting ranks and a back row draw looks unlikely to stop her in the four-year-old mares race.
Other highlights of the trotters finals include the clash of Victoria Derby winner Mecarno and Need For Speed Prince victor Commodus in the 3CG decider while Redwood Classic winner Notanotha Naughty and Nutrien Equine Classic victor Howdy Mate both bring a string of wins to the 2CG final where they are likely to be challenged by progressive gelding Keayang Bazlenka.
Group 1 racing also heads west on Friday night where the draw has created an interesting clash of the state's best mares in the Westral Classic at Gloucester Park.
Penny Black has been terrific this time in, scoring for the third time in her last four starts when she raced three wide without cover to take out the G2 Norms Daughter Classic last time.
She draws on the second line but came from the same barrier to win a G3 last month and strikes at 50 per cent at the 2536m distance.
Aardiebytheseaside was hampered by a flat tyre when runner-up to Penny Black in the Norms Daughter. She is a quality mare who came from much wider when winning at the track first up and she loves the distance, recording four wins and a placing from five attempts.
Little Darling was terrific last week when she drew wide and worked before scoring by 4m. This is stronger but she draws much better and a repeat of the last performance would stack up strongly.
Copy Cat Queen was caught up in traffic when beaten only 4.5m in the Golden Nugget last start. She won the other two times she contested the distance at Gloucester Park and while she cops a wide draw she is good enough with even luck.
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