NZ Sires’ Stakes heats up with exciting double-header

After a false start last week, the NZ Sires’ Stakes harness racing series revs up this Friday with two races in Auckland and Christchurch, including a new event at Addington.

Last Friday's highly-anticipated NZ Sires’ Stakes two-year-old fillies heat at Alexandra Park was abruptly abandoned after less than 400 meters due to a crash that left driver Benjamin Butcher injured and sidelined for at least six weeks and some horses grazed and confused.

A re-race was quickly rescheduled by the NZ Sires’ Stakes for October 4.

Now it's time for Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires’ Stakes take two with what is now heat one back in Auckland this Friday night with nine two-year-old pacing fillies returning.

Stablemates Always B Misty and Music Mistress are expected to dominate the conversation once again, the former unbeaten from the Telfer northern race base, the latter worthy of southern supremacy from the blue and white check barn in Canterbury. Race 5 is set to run at 7.55pm.

The next race on the Auckland card will see a full field of 12 two-year-old males kick off the "Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes" juvenile pacing series (8.20pm). Again, Team Telfer has the talk horse Bar Louie. However, the formidable team from Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan's Clevedon headquarters will have three slots on the second row, with Confederate, I Got Chills and The Night Agent.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch, a new $30,000 Caduceus Club Fillies Prelude targets southern two-year-old pacers aiming to qualify for that lucrative series Final in Auckland later this month. The race will kick off Friday Night Lights at 5.08pm, with Diamond Racing fielding two runners, including Group 3 winner Gone Surfin, and Team Telfer entering three Stonewall Stud-staked fillies in Spicey Crunch, Elektra King and Theron.

A highly anticipated conditioned Heat 2 of the Nevele R Fillies Series will feature a full field of up to Rating 70 three-year-old fillies at 8.35pm. These fillies will compete for a $22.5k purse and a spot in the Cup Day final at Addington.

NZSS Possibles:

Addington: Spicey Crunch, Treacherous Baby
Auckland: Music Mistress, The Night Agent

NZSS Probables:

Addington: Gone Surfin', Melody Banner
Auckland: Always B Misty, Bar Louie

Rescheduled Series Dates & Venues :

Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 1 Friday September 6, Auckland.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 2 Thursday October 3, NZ Metro.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 3 Friday October 4, Auckland.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Heat 4 Monday October 28, Ashburton.
Dunstan Horsefeeds – 2YO Fillies Sires’ Stakes Final Friday November 15, NZ Metro.

To see the latest Sires' Stakes Newsetter and Podcast click here