Sooner The Bettor (middle, silver and blue) is a sprint specialist perfectly suited to tonight's meeting at Alexandra Park. Photo / Ajay Berry
Tonight is one of the special nights on the New Zealand racing calendar, bringing the top class and battlers together to race for the same money under the same conditions.
The Golden Gait series is designed to reward horses who regularly start at Alexandra Park during the year with 10 mobile mile finals all worth $50,000.
That means former Miracle Mile runner-up Sooner The Bettor (R5, No 7) goes around for the same money over the same trip as 10-year-old veteran Benjamin Button (R7, No 8), who will be having his 153rd career start.
Here is the best way to tackle tonight’s 10 Golden Gait Finals.
Race 1, R43-51 Pace: Plenty of early speed here could set the race up for those who stay out of the early burn, the two most obvious being Double Parked and Ultimate Racy Girl. The latter may be slightly the better horse, but Double Parked could have a tactical advantage.
Bet: Double Parked (6) to win.
Race 2, 3yo Trot: One of the best fields of the night, with several future open-class trotters. Ya Rite Darl beat the older mares at G1 level last Friday and, if she races up to that form, can win again. But Youneverknow has X-factor and potential to get in front of his key rival.
Bet: Youneverknow (8) on top. But be patient, his price could drift closer to start time.
Race 3, 3yo Pace: Again, plenty of depth, but there’s no doubting Captain Sampson is the best horse here. Faces a second line draw but has won coming wide in fast times before.
Bet: Captain Sampson (12) to win, but Final Change (7) at $3.10 Top3 also a good bet.
Race 4, 2yo Trot: Save A Prayer galloped in both his last two starts at Addington, but before that won well here in good time. Looks the most talented and, if he trots throughout, clearly the one to beat in a race where manners will be the key.
Bet: Save A Prayer (6) to win, Somebody a nice Top3 option.
Race 5, R55-R90 Pace: Race of the night with Sooner The Bettor coming out of the NZ Cup last start against last year’s winner of this race, Jolimont.
Sooner The Bettor has great gate speed and won both the Spring Cup and Holmes D G here in the spring, so has to be the one to beat.
Bet: Sooner The Bettor (7) to win.
Race 6, R55-85 Trot: Really deep field with all the major players in form. But Hillbilly Blues went to a new level in beating Mighty Logan and Oscar Bonavena here last Friday.
Has yet to win in three mobile starts, but has been quick off the gate when asked, so should stay handy.
Walkinonsunshine, Belle Neige or American Muscle could all test the favourite if things don’t work out for him early.
Bet: Hillbilly Blues (3) looks one of the bets of the night and is a juicy $3 with Box Seat Boost (under Futures on TAB website).
Race 7, R35-42 Pace: A real “reward for turning up race” for plenty of the Alex Park regulars who have rarely visited the winner’s circle.
Dave Duley stands out after being a close second in a strong and fast-run Metro Final last start.
Bet: Dave Duley as a multi maker, as $1.50 is too short for many win punters.
Race 8, R42-53 Trot: One of the most even races of the night, with multiple winning hopes.
Bravehearthighlander was fourth in the race Hillbilly Blues won last Friday, Bolt For The Hill has a stack of ability, Shesgold is a sharp sprinter, and Loteria could do something special if saved for one 600m surge. Even Westar Milly or Father Barry could win without surprising.
Bet: Enough value to back Bolt For The Hill (7), Loteria (11) and Father Barry (1).
Race 9, 2yo Pace: Cyclone Rebel seemed a certainty when beaten here last Friday against older horses, when he never got clear. Some handy opponents here, but he really should win.
American Falcon has gate speed to make his own luck, while Prince Lincoln was very brave in a smart field last Friday.
Bet: Cyclone Rebel (5) should win, but maybe only a multi-play. Prince Lincoln Top2 at $1.85 is another option.
Race 10, R35-41 Trot: If you had told people a few months ago that Crazy would be a $1.80 favourite to win a $50,000 race, they would have thought you were, um, crazy.
But the veteran troublemaker has found his sweet spot in mobile races and won a strong Metro Final last start, yet still sneaks into this race.
If he trots throughout, he should win. If he doesn’t, then Miss Bebe is the clear next best option.
Bet: Crazy (7) to win, but maybe with a small cover on Miss Bebe just in case.
Michael Guerin wrote his first nationally published racing articles while still in school and started writing about horse racing and the gambling industry for the Herald as a 20-year-old in 1990. He became the Herald’s Racing Editor in 1995 and covers the world’s biggest horse racing carnivals.