Racing: Dickies set to dominate park

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Josh Dickie looks the horseman to follow tonight as Alexandra Park kicks off a huge weekend of harness racing on both sides of the Tasman.

Dickie is just back from Australia, where he partnered Speeding Spur to a massive second in the Grand Prix last Saturday, confirming his return trip to Melton for the Great Southern Star next month.

But Dickie and father John can dominate tonight's meeting, which runs alongside the premier card at Addington.

The stable has swift three-year-old Motown (race two) back from Sires' Stakes duty, class mare Paramount Dream (race seven) and Millie Sampson (race 10) and last-start winner Taimate Success in the third.

All four can win but it is Bettor Think Quick in race nine, the first northern heat of the Nevele R Fillies series, who Dickie rates the stable's best chance.

"She was huge running third in the Sires' Stakes Final last start and they broke 2:38 that day," says Dickie.

"And I think she has got better since. We couldn't be happier with her and while Arden's Choice will be hard to beat, she is our best chance."

Dickie believes Paramount Dream is over her manners concerns while the return to all-weather racing after a last-start grass track defeat should aid Millie Sampson.

Motown was on the second level of elite three-year-old pacers earlier this season and has been aided by three scratchings in his race, suggesting he will charge across to lead. While the Dickies' stable has established a great strike rate this season, that has also seen Josh secure better outside drives and one of those is Alta Intrigue in tonight's small but select male juvenile pace.

He already has a 1:56 mile rate to his name but with the freshman season about to get serious, which horses stand up to be counted at group one level will soon be unveiled.

Meanwhile, tonight's Addington meeting has some enormous talent spread across the evening.

Locharburn in the Summer Cup could be the star of the show while the richest race, the $150,000 Sales Series Fillies, looks open with none of the Purdon-Rasmussen fillies eligible.

Meanwhile, Have Faith In Me has two missions in tomorrow night's A$200,000 Chariots of Fire in Sydney.

The most obvious is to overcome barrier 10 to win, which his huge stamina reserves suggest he will.

His second, tougher, task is to impress trainer Purdon enough to then accept any Miracle Mile invitation that should come his way should he win and go close to the 1:50 mark.

Friday's best

Best bet: Bettor Think Quick (R9, No.2): Huge third in group one last start, won't need to go any better.

Well placed: On The Town (R8, No.2): Has been racing in far better fields and has the draw to lead.

Don't drop: Waterloo Sunset (Addington, R6, No.5): Galloped last time but his best good enough for what is not a strong open class field.