Presenter-driver-trainer Brittany Graham knows a thing or two about racing on both sides of the Tasman and now that the Queenslander is working for Trackside in this country she’s (reluctantly) agreed to write a weekly column on anything she thinks is relevant, topical or even fun.
The Aussie unknowns this Friday at Alexandra Park
By Brittany Graham
While the Australian flavour in the north has been strong for the last month, there is added intrigue in Friday night’s Alexandra Park premier race card.
It comes in the form of a rare Australian juvenile racing here and the change to standing start conditions for two other trans-Tasman visitors in the trotting ranks.
The surprise entrance of Group 1 winning two-year-old filly Ripples has certainly spiced up the Young Guns series (6.09pm) with Emma Stewart making her long-awaited international training debut. She’s opened a $1.55 favourite!
Emma, alongside her partner Clayton Tonkin have long been regarded as the ‘gold standard’ in the young horse pacing ranks, dominating most divisions for the best part of 10 years. Their ability to have their two-year-olds well-educated and mannered, alongside working with premium bred stock, has seen the duo sweep all before them.
Ripples is the next in a long line to fit that mould. By the incomparable Bettor’s Delight, she is out of a sister to Nike Franco and was bred in New Zealand by Mick Harvey. The fact that her eligibilities in Australia are limited, alongside her Bathurst Gold Tiara success prompted the idea for a shot at the Young Guns series.
Her efforts at Bathurst were dominant, with a debut heat romp, followed by a hard-fought final victory in a 1.53.9second mile rate after working for the first half of the race to eventually position in the breeze thereafter.
Typical of the Tonkin Stewart Racing operation, Ripples has shown maturity beyond her two start career and looks a natural who wears little gear. She will be looking to draw on all of this when she tackles right-handed racing for the first time, and locks horns with some impressive locals.
Champion reinsman Luke McCarthy took the reins in her first two starts, with Blair Orange engaged for this series.
“She felt really strong at Bathurst and had great manners,” said McCarthy.
“You never know how they will handle the Auckland way, but she comes from such an astute camp, I’m sure they will have given her practice and have her spot on”
As Queen Elida approaches the end of her racing career, she will line up from behind the tapes for just the fourth time in 86 starts when she takes her place in the H R Fisken & Sons Anzac Cup.
Off the back of excellent seconds in both the TAB Trot and Lyell Creek Stakes, it will be her first standing start attempt since success in the Australasian Trotting Championship of September 2023. Despite this anomaly, she has always been a reliable mare and ticked the right-handed box with her luckless effort here a fortnight ago.
Conversely, Not As Promised has raced under standing start conditions for almost a third of his career, including four of his 10 starts this preparation.
A generally safe beginner, he isn’t necessarily the ‘step and run’ style horse and still requires some balancing up relatively early in his career.
He will of course have benefitted by a look around Alexandra Park in the Lyell Creek Stakes and looks likely to relish the 3200metres of next Friday’s Rowe Cup.
