Racing: Jewels punters and bookies scratching their heads

Kahdon (right) will be a top chance for her division of the Harness Jewels if she starts. Photo / Greg Bowker

The markets for all three trotting divisions of the Harness Jewels have been thrown into confusion after a weekend of shocks.

The shadow fields for harness racing's $1.5 million day at Cambridge on June 5 will be known this Sunday, which is the cut-off point for the top 12 stakes-based qualifiers for each division.

The connections of those horses then have five days to accept, with the final fields declared on May 28.

While there have been only a few big-name withdrawals or upsets in the pacing ranks, the markets for all three trotting divisions have been thrown into turmoil.

The confusion started on Friday when last season's 3-year-old winner Pocaro was withdrawn from this year's four-year-old race with a persistent leg injury.

"It might have been bugging her for a while and she is too good to take any risks with," said trainer Mark Purdon.

Pocaro would have started Jewels favourite with a good draw but her absence means stablemate I Can Doosit is now the $1.70 favourite for his division.

However, with Ima Gold Digger and Dr Hook having made giant strides in recent weeks, that division looks more open than it did just a few days ago.

The 3-year-old division is also clouded in uncertainty until the future of favourite Kahdon is established.

She is under offer to an Australian buyer but has not had a veterinary examination because the potential buyer was involved in a car crash.

That examination is booked to take place this Friday but even if Kahdon is sold trainer Paul Nairn doesn't know what to expect.

"I presume if she has a new owner he will want her to stay here for the Jewels," said Nairn. "So I am preparing her as if that is the case and I suppose we will know more after Friday." Kahdon is the $2.20 favourite for that division, while Miami H has been the big mover into $3 after his effortless win in the Trotting Stakes at Cambridge last Friday.

Early favourite Shezoneoftheboyz is racing well below her best, having galloped in three of her past four starts and is now out to $6, remarkable for a filly who started a $1.40 favourite when winning the New Zealand Derby six weeks ago.

The juvenile trotting division is also now confused after the Sires' Stakes at Addington on Saturday, in which hot favourite Paramount Geegee suffered his first defeat when clearly outpointed by Kylie Ree.

Paramount Geegee might have been slightly below his best but the defeat has pushed him out to $2, with Kylie Ree into $5.

The trotter rated by many as the second-most talented of the crop, Springbank Sam, was a battling fourth in the same race and is now out to $3.50, with his lack of early manners a huge concern for a mile race at Cambridge.

While the trotting markets have all altered dramatically in recent days, the big names in the pacing markets are relatively steady, with Tintin In America and Russley Rascal impressive weekend winners.

Racing at Addington this Friday will further ascertain which 3-year-old fillies and juvenile male pacers deserve respect, but those divisions now look open enough that final favouritism will come down to barrier draws.

JEWELS CONFUSION

* The $1.5 million Harness Jewels will be run at Cambridge on June 5.
* The nine races bring together the best 108 young pacers and trotters in the country.
* Last season's 3-year-old trot winner Pocaro has been withdrawn.
* All three trotting divisions have seen market disruption over the weeken