Racing: Much at stake for moderate prizemoney

The threat of Harness Jewels expulsion will ratchet up the pressure on what would normally be a low-key meeting at Alexandra Park tonight.

Up to 12 of tonight's runners are on the cusp of qualifying for the rich $1.5 million Harness Jewels raceday at Cambridge on June 5.

However, with a premier meeting at Addington tomorrow night horses there have an advantage in the race for the 12 stakes-based invitations for each Jewels division.

That means big-name pacers like Courage To Rule need to win or run second tonight to confirm their Jewels spot.

His case is the strangest of all the horses trying to cement their spot in the Jewels because he has won more than $250,000 this season but only $36,100 of its counts towards his Jewels qualification.

His win in the Victoria Derby and second in the New South Wales Derby are irrelevant because overseas stakes don't count.

As well, his third in the $250,000 Sales Series in December also doesn't count because not all horses are eligible for that series.

So he goes into tonight's 2200m event in 14th place in the 3-year-old male pacing division, with 12th-placed Stormy Sirocco in the same race.

Courage To Rule has the gate speed to go forward and try and lead and with his relentless racing style it is a safe bet he won't be handing up if he can get there.

As one of the more consistent 3-year-olds at the highest level Australasian-wide this season it would be a shame if he didn't make the Jewels at the expense of an inferior rival like Beaudiene Christian, who sits in 13th place but hasn't been a factor on the main stage this season.

Later in the night, the main handicap pace sees a quartet of 4-year-old pacers trying to seal their spot at the Jewels.

Dustin Bromac, Cast Off Courage, Auditor General and Flem N Em sit 12th to 15th in the rankings respective and of the quartet Cast Off Courage looks the best placed tonight.

He is a highly-promising stayer who likes to lead and gets the chance to do so as the only starter off the front line, which suggests he will be hard to catch.

Victory for him could push Dustin Bromac out of the 12 Jewels qualifiers, while Attorney General and Flem N Em would also qualify with a win tonight.

Earlier in the evening, Dr Hook looks perfectly placed in race three, coming off a huge last-start second in a fast time.

He comes in beautifully off a 10m handicap and victory tonight would confirm him as the pre-draw second favourite for the 4-year-old trotting division.

Other starters tonight who find themselves on the cusp of Jewels qualification and could win their way in - or lose their way out - include Rondo, Sunlaw and Bon Ton Cherie in race five, Bella Me and Talaspring in race six and Twist N Shout in race nine.

The Jewels qualification cut-off point is Sunday night, with the final fields confirmed next Friday.