Stellar line-up in tonight's NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington

By Michael Guerin

Nathan Williamson knows the pack may have caught up to his glamour trotting filly Duchess Maria.

Now his job is to catch them in tonight’s $125,000 Yabby Dam Farms NZ Trotting Oaks at Addington (8.02pm).

On a rare night where young trotters dominate the Addington card the Oaks may be the strongest trotting fillies race ever held in New Zealand, with five or six of the eight starters looking to have open class potential.

That is a far cry from this time last year when Duchess Maria was the clear top seed of the juvenile crop for trainer-driver Williamson, which may still be the case after tonight’s Group 1 but not without a fight.

“It has turned into an amazing crop,” admits Williamson.

“There are two or three other fillies in there who in any normal season would be a clear standout and here we all are together.

“I am really happy with my filly and she will hopefully be going in spot on but Dad’s filly [Becky’s Girl] is flying and I have enormous respect for Our Col.

“Even Imperious Girl has run some amazing sectionals so I am sure it is going to be a great race.”

Duchess Maria has raced only three times this year after being unbeaten at two and was only just run down by Becky’s Girl fresh up.

That form was franked by Becky’s Girl’s brilliant win in the Hambletonian last week, a race Williamson let Duchess Maria miss.

“I wanted to get some miles into her legs so we stayed down home [Southland] and she has won twice over 2700m there and I think that might prove the ideal lead-up to the 2600m on Friday.

“But the crop has definitely improved and with our draw (7) we might have to try to come over top of them so we might need a little luck.

“But after having a few little issues a few months ago she is healthy and well.”

Becky’s Girl was stunning winning the Hambletonian and has such blazing speed if she sits close to the speed it is going to take something special to hold her out while Our Col (2) has been a big winner in the barrier draw.

She has the scope and power of a filly who should relish tonight’s 2600m mobile and may have more gate speed than some expect.

Where she ends up in the run will be interesting but if she brings her best Alexandra Park form south she will be very hard to hold out.

Imperious Girl can win but being on the unruly makes things a little more challenging while Petite Amour is always a chance, although like Duchess Maria she has seen the opposition of this crop strengthen since last season.

The Oaks also contains Queensland filly Raffie Jay for Chantal Turpin, who knows all about winning Addington trotting features after the heroics of Gus last NZ Cup week.

The three-year-old trotting boys have their Derby Prelude earlier tonight with Kawatiri Trev maybe the best hope although his manners can still be a bit iffy and he wouldn’t want to do anything wrong over 1980m mobile, especially as race rival I’m Connected looks to be a trotter on the way up.

Later in the night we see the strongest two-year-old trot of the season so far in the IRT Sires’ Stakes Prelude, with Eyes Wide Open (R9, No.2) maybe just the one to beat but three or four others nipping at his heals.

In the pacing ranks Jumal will be unbackable in the NZ Pacing Derby Prelude in which he meets just five rivals and even from the outside of the front line he should be in front at some stage and winning.