Daring front-running juvenile trotting filly Jo Anne is expected to emulate her brother Dependable by winning the $25,000 Roydon Lodge Stud New Zealand Two-Year-old Stakes at Addington tonight.
The precocious Sundon-Janetta's Pride filly is the fastest juvenile trotter New Zealand has produced.
But after two defeats in her last three starts, she needs to have her A game going tonight to seal two-year-old of the year honours.
She trotted one minute 58.5 seconds for the mile at Ashburton in February, and also set the New Zealand fillies' mobile 1950m record of 2min 27.6secs at Addington two weeks ago, winning untested by 17 lengths.
Driver Ken Barron let her roll along last week, being on target for another record time, but she didn't burn off her rivals like the previous week. Tony H crept up along the inner from the third line and ruined the Jo Anne party.
Tony H, a Sundon gelding from the in-form Derek Balle/Ian Small stable from Pukekohe and co-owned by Radio Pacific announcer Peter Earley, won by half a length in 2min 27.1secs, a 2min 01.3secs mile rate for the 1950m, to claim the New Zealand colts and geldings record.
He has to be the big danger again. Tony H and Jo Anne were 7 1/2 lengths clear of Paris Metro two weeks ago, and a big improvement is required from the others to test the favoured pair.
Tony H has a change of driver with Colin de Filippi engaged as Mark Jones, who had driven Tony H in both his Addington lead-up races, is in Auckland.
- NZPA
Racing: Precocious filly set to emulate brother
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.