As many of the favorites face handicaps or tough draws in the five richest races as things start to pick up in the northern harness.
There are two Group 1s on Friday, one each for the female trotters and pacers, and both 2200m mobiles have seen early second-line draws from the favourites.
The $100,000 Woodlands Stud Queen of Hearts will see impressive recent winners Esmeralda and Francent drawn side by side on the second line and if the second emergency melody banner is scratched the two South Island mares will start from barriers 1 and 2 on the second line.
That will see them trail Group 1-winning fillies Arafura (barrier 1) and Captains Mistress (2), with Ruby Roe alongside them at 3 on the front line.
That could prove beneficial for one of the following mares, but it’s hard to see how it would be good for either of them in what could be a very tactical race.
The draws were enough to ensure TAB bookmakers opened Arafura, the $3.50 favourite, even though she was beaten fair and square by Francent after taking the lead last Friday.
The $100,000 TAB Queen of Diamonds Trot also sees one of the favorites in Belle Neige pulling barrier 1 on the front line, while her stablemates American Muscle and Faith In Manchester are drawn wider, but southerners Walkinonsunshine (1 second line), Hidden Talent and Ya Rite Darl have all drawn the second line.
Akuta and Merlin resume their rivalry 20 meters behind in the $60,000 Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup and while they were on even terms in the Kaikoura Cup, the subsequent NZ Cup weekly format sees Merlin the $1.75 favorite over Akuta at $3.80 in a race where Arna Donnelly has three repeats, Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have two, while Akuta is the only other rider in the field of six horses.
The Co-Op Taxis Northern Stakes for three-year-old pacers also attracts a small field, but with the potential for the favorites to dive.
Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin are the two most heavily rated players in the field, but are ranked fourth and fifth, so their tactics will be interesting early.
And the main trot will see both Oscar Bonavena and Mighty Logan starting from 20 meters behind, albeit in a race with no frontline depth and few other open class regulars.
Click to view Auckland’s fields here
Through Michael Guerinfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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