Racing: Favourites pick up great draws for Jewels

Piccadilly Princess. Photo / Stuart McCormick

If there are racing gods, it appears they take multi bets.

Because either that or a remarkable set of coincidences have seen many of the long-term favourites draw almost perfectly for next Saturday's Harness Jewels.

And while there is often a twist in the last week heading into the Jewels, there could be as many as seven odds-on favourites at Ashburton's $1.2 million meeting.

Of the six odds-on favourites before yesterday's draw, all have drawn the front row for their mobile mile assignments, with four of them to start from barrier three or inside. The two others, Enghien (barrier seven in the three-year-old Ruby) and Spanish Armada (likely to start from six in the three-year-old Diamond) are not natural gate flyers so are probably better suited drawn wider on the front line.

The huge winners from the draws were Piccadilly Princess, who gets the ace in the four-year-old mares' pace while Spankem will be red-hot in the juvenile boys' pace from barrier two.

Ultimate Machete is perfectly placed at barrier three in the three-year-old male pace while last-start disappointment Elle Mac will be odds-on again from barrier two in the juvenile female pace, especially with key rival Dizzy Miss Lizzy drawn the inside of the second line.

That leaves probably two truly open punting contests in the two-year-old and four-year-old trots, where the more favoured runners have had mixed luck with the draws.

The hardest horse of the entire meeting to price could end up being Heaven Rocks in the four-year-old male pace even though he was always going to be starting from the unruly.

While most horses conceding a start to near open class rivals around Ashburton over a mile would have no chance, he is a freakish talent and will still be first pick for many.

Heaven Rocks will have his final public work at the Ashburton workouts today where he takes on nearly forgotten stablemate More The Better, who heads to the Jewels without a race start in nearly three months.

But the most anticipated workout today will be the three and four-year-old trot, where Lemond and long-time Jewels favourite but dramatic last-start failure Marcoola clash in a field that also contains Habibti Inta, Chevron Express and Missandei.

Wilma's Mate will contest a handicap trot heat while northern three-year-old trot entrant C K Spur will take on the pacers at today's Pukekohe workouts.