And it will be two of the surprise packages of the Cambridge spring races that will take on the strongest form lines, numerically at least, against the glamor horses straight from Group 1.
Friday’s meeting is the start of a big month at The Park and along with two TAB Metro Finals, one for the pacers and the trotters, but it is the two big races for the girls that bring with them the most diverse form lines.
The $25,000 Queen Of Diamonds Prelude heads into the Group 1 trot on Friday week and sees three-year-old filly Ya Rite Darl with a form line of -599 take on Cambridge regular Emily Bay, who incredibly has the best numbers next to her name with back-to-back wins.
Ya Rite Darl will still be a hot favorite in the Mobile 1700m even though she has one win from her five starts at Alexandra Park, as she has raced against the best of her age in almost every start in 2025 and it seems she only needs to show her best manners to match the older mares.
An even more impressive run of Cambridge wins comes on Friday night from Aquila, who have remarkably won five in a row in the Waikato for young trainer Zev Meredith.
She is rising very much in the class, but will face two-time Oaks winner Arafura in the G3 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes, the natural lead-up to next week’s Queen Of Hearts.
To make Aquila’s life even more difficult, she finds herself an R63 mare and is therefore pulled outside Arafura (barrier 3).
In the Metro Trot Final, Look To Da Stars will be a firm favorite even after the worst draw, having won his heat last Friday almost as easily as his previous start at Addington.
His stablemate Arden’s Memory could become favorite in the $35,000 TAB Pacing Metro Final after her brave last start win, while the meeting also hosts the Franklin Country Cup with a small but even field.
To see Friday’s fields click here
Through Michael Guerinfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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