Junior Drivers and Silk Road final to highlight Friday night action

[Wandering Eyes]

It’s Friday night and that means some quality racing at both Addington (first race 4.34pm) and at Alexandra Park (first race 5.46pm).

Addington will see the fifth and final heat of the McMillan Equine Feeds NZ Junior Drivers Championships (6.29pm) with Zev Meredith leading the field on 37 points, one ahead of 2020 champion Kerryn Tomlinson, and Crystal Hackett and Seth Hill right in contention on 33.

Other features of the night include the appearance of star northern filly Duchess Megxit in the $25,000 Macca Lodge Hilarious Guest 3YO Fillies Classic (7.32pm) and the $25,000 Fahey Fence Hire Handicap Pace (8.57). Included in that field are gun four-year-olds Sooner The Bettor, Wag Star and Pinseeker against the likes of Franco  Marek, Tact McLeod and Mach Shard.

Auckland’s nine race programme is highlighted by the $30,000 Woodlands Stud – Silk Road Northern Series Final at 8.07pm while there will be Heats 1 and 2 of the latest Northern Metro Series for both the pacers and the trotters. The first five in each heat will be guaranteed a place in the two $35,000 finals next Friday.

What A Minx rated chance in $30,000 Final at Alexandra Park

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk

Canterbury trainer Stephen Boyd reckons he’s a bit “lucky” that What A Minx has made tonight’s $30,000 Woodlands Stud Silk Road Northern Spring Series Final for the fillies and mares at Alexandra Park.

And with a bit more luck he says his four-year-old mare is a decent chance in what is looking like an open race.

“She’s as bright as button in the paddock,” says Boyd, “and being second on the second row could be ok, it’s better than drawing eight or nine.”

The daughter of Art Major is currently a $6 third favourite along with Mhai Surfer Girl, with Courtney Rose ($2.70) and Akatea ($5.50) rated ahead of them.

“It looks like a good competitive race.”

The final comes after the series’ five heats between September 13 and October 11. Heat winners You Little Beauty, Courtney Rose and Seaside Rose have all made the final while Wicked Wanda, the only dual heat winner, was scratched earlier this week.

What A Minx makes the final despite having only one start in the series, a sixth behind Wicked Wanda on October 11. In that race she was taken back to last with driver Maurice McKendry denied a run in the vital stages.

“Maurice said he just couldn’t find a gap.”

Boyd decided to send the mare north from his Canterbury base for a number of reasons.

“She’d had a gutsful of Addington, she wasn’t trying, and there weren’t any country meetings that suited so I talked to Spud (owner, Craig Crosse) and decided we’d go there.”

What A Minx will stay in the north and will try and qualify for the $1m Golden Gait series at the Park on December 20. To be eligible horses need to have raced six times during the qualifying period (January 1 – December 6).

So far What A Minx has won six from 52 and $93,118 and earlier in her career was good enough to finish fourth in the 2023 Magness Benrow Sires’ Stakes 3YO Fillies Championship, three lengths between the invincible Millwood Nike. She was also third in the Group 2 2023 Macca Lodge-Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks Final.

Boyd says a series of injuries and niggles stopped her from being as good as she could have been.

“As a two-year-old she did have a joint issue and it probably did take some of the speed away.”

What A Minx’s immediate future after tonight is to get in foal “in the next few weeks” before tackling the Golden Gait series, before retirement.

“If we get a good mile time and get up to $100,000 that would be good on her broodmare page.”

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