Racing: Fillies up to mark in stakes

Rarely do 3-year-old trotting fillies tackle older horses, even if those older horses are just low-graders.

Even more uncommon is for a filly to take on seasoned opposition at black-type level.

Nonetheless that is exactly what will happen when both Harriet Hughes and Petite Sunset take their places in tonight's listed House Of Nobilo Great Northern Breeders Stakes.

Despite the infrequency of such an occurrence, however, there are two reasons it would be wrong to think the fillies will be out of their depth.

First, tonight's race is certainly one of the weaker stakes races in the calendar, as would be expected for a trotters' race restricted only to the fairer sex.

Second, the two fillies come from what appears to be an unusually strong crop of 3-year-old squaregaiters. Already George Castleton, One Over Kenny and Harriet Hughes have won in dominant fashion over graded opposition.

"It does seem like a strong crop," said Tony Herlihy, who drives Harriet Hughes tonight. "Not only have they done well when they've taken on the older horses but they've run the times."

Herlihy, who is also the regular driver of the season's top filly, One Over Kenny, holds Harriet Hughes in similar regard.

"There's not a lot between them but, in saying that, the other filly is very classy. Harriet Hughes is quite a big filly and is just doing it on natural ability.

"For a Sundon [her sire, known for throwing talented but sometimes unpredictable horses] she's also pretty good mentally."

Harriet Hughes faces a significant jump in class from the 2-5 win field she beat at her last start but the manner in which she won left Herlihy, who was driving her for the first time, suitably impressed.

"She skipped a bit but once she settled outside the leader she was good. When I pulled the hood she just went away from them. I think she'll be better for that run too."

The other filly in tonight's race, Petite Sunset, ran second to Harriet Hughes on that occasion, leaving her trainer Frank Weaver realistic about her prospects.

"I just hope Harriet Hughes doesn't go too quick," said Weaver. "Running second last time was good because she hadn't been at her best since Addington but Harriet Hughes won easily."

Petite Sunset is a daughter of Weaver's champion mare Pride Of Petite, who won over $800,000 and raced around the world.

"Petite Sunset flew home at Auckland one night and I said that she's got the same speed as her mother. She's got a very long way to go though. She's not as strong as Pride Of Petite was at the same stage."

While talent, and a head-start on most of their rivals, will take the fillies close tonight, there will be many proven performers looking to hunt them down.

In particular the high-speed Yummy Lace will find this race easier than many of her recent assignments, as will Iwi Alex, who hasn't raced since finishing well back in the Rowe Cup.

An interesting addition to the field is Shine On Alisha, who recently joined Richard Brosnan's stable and beat two rivals at Saturdays workouts. Shine On Alisha was previously trained by John Newberry and has always shown an aversion to Alexandra Park.

"The main reason John sent her here is to seek some opportunities at Auckland," said Brosnan. "Whenever she goes to Cambridge she does everything right but she's never got used to Auckland. We're hoping to get her used to it by repetition."