By Matt Markham
The battle for female, three-year-old, pacing supremacy will return tonight at Addington with New Zealand’s three best fillies locking horns for the first time since they met in the Harness Jewels last season.
And the three stars; Partyon, Delightful Memphis and Spanish Armada all meet under different circumstances in the heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series.
Partyon comes in off the back of a shock defeat last week while Delightful Memphis is riding the crest of a wave after two impressive recent performances while Spanish Armada has just been doing what she does best and that’s consistently racing with distinction.
For Partyon it’s a shot at redemption after she was beaten for the first time in her career at Forbury Park last week.
“It wasn’t an ideal race for her first up on,” Mark Purdon said.
“Sitting parked in those conditions, when running that sort of time just proved too much.”
Natalie Rasmussen takes the drives on the rangy filly tonight and with the requirement a first or second placing to make the Nevele R Fillies Final it’s expected she will look to take luck out of the equation and try and dictate terms from the front.
That leaves Delightful Memphis in an interesting position.
The Mark Jones trained filly has been stunning in her last two starts down in the deep south including a breath-taking New Zealand record time win off a handicap against the older horses last time.
That backs up a 1:51 mile win a fortnight before.
She’s qualified for the Nevele R Fillies Final, so there’s not quite as much pressure on Jones to get a result but the Burnham horseman will be keen to see whether or not recent racing has improved his charge enough to really push the two top fillies.
Matt Anderson has been gifted the plum drive on Spanish Armada for tonight and the youngster will be looking to make the most of his opportunity albeit from an outside of the front line draw.
Beaten once in her last six starts, the dour filly won’t have any problems making her own luck tonight, although she is in a similar boat to Delightful Memphis in that she has already qualified for the final on May 12.
Super Selector for Addington
Race 1: Woodstone, Majestic Moment, Spurred By Success, Ed Wood
Race 2: Locked Out Of Heaven, El Gran Senor, Got A Beauty, Black Art
Race 3: Crusher Collins, Grand Princess, Jaw D Nancy, One Over Da Skye
Race 4: The Devil’s Own, Mach Shard, Cole Porter, Bailey Major
Race 5: Power Surge, Errol Finn, Kayteeoh Denario, Titanium
Race 6: Partyon, Delightful Memphis, Spanish Armada, Utmost Delight
Race 7: Real Obsession, Franco Rebel, Mighty Santana, North Carolina
Race 8: Sugar Cane, Beg Hall, Geena’s Success, Chivasion
Race 9: Mighty American, Midfrew Tarpediem, Vera’s Delight, Enchantee
Best Bet: Partyon (Race6)
Value: Sugar Cane (Race 8)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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