This Sunday, August 15 will see Tabcorp Park light up as plenty of harness racing fans witness the Australasian Breeders Crown Heats. While this weeklong Breeders Crown event will see the best in the harness racing world competing for a chance to appear in the $100,000 final event, many are looking forward to the four-year-old mares as two of the most talented pacers – Make Mine Cullen and Broadways Best – prepare to take to the track in their respective heats.
Broadways Best will kick things off in Heat 1 set to start at 1:16pm. The SR McLean-trained filly has been touted as one of the best in Australian pacing, and rightly so. In her nine starts in Australia this season, she’s taken seven first place finishes and one second place. She’s collected over $120,000 in prize money, and is a favourite to win the Breeders Crown title.
Broadways Best has come up with a decent barrier draw, as she will be starting in fair position in number five. Though, it could be a hard fought win for the filly as the field includes a couple of decent threats. This includes Queen of Fire in the pole position and Elixir in barrier number six. SM Hunter-trained Brushgrovemachbest is another contender, though with a second row, barrier nine position, a move to the front will be difficult. You can back the Chris Alford-driven Broadways Best at SportsBet as they are offering all of the best harness racing odds. Here’s a look at the entire Heat 1 field and barrier draw:
Australasian Breeders Crown Heats: 4YO Mares Heat 1 @1:16pm
No. |
Form |
Horse |
Trainer |
Driver |
Class |
Hcp |
| 1 | 81122 |
Queen of Fire |
PG Manning | Kerryn Manning | C5 M0 | FR1 |
| 2 | 55725 |
Flyin Indi Air |
MJ Miles | C1 M0 | FR2 | |
| 3 | 4s816 |
Delwyns Daughter |
CW Holloway | Brett Followay | C2 M0 | FR3 |
| 4 | 1s242 |
Justa Jem Lombo |
PG Manning | Glen Graven (C) | C2 M0 | FR4 |
| 5 | 11s11 |
Broadways Best |
SR McLean | Chris Alford | C12 M3 | FR5 |
| 6 | 21163 |
Elixir |
BK Aylett | Nathan Jack | C7 M1 | FR6 |
| 7 | 51077 |
Ayu Gypsy |
L Miles | Lisa Miles | C4 M0 | FR7 |
| Second Row | ||||||
| 8 | 35881 |
Ay Tee Em |
PT Salathiel | Peter Salathiel | C4 M0 | SR1 |
| 9 | 44107 |
Brushgrovemachbest |
SM Hunter | Gavin Lang | C6 M0 | SR2 |
To further add to the appeal of this Breeders Crown pacing event is the possibility of a showdown between Broadways Best and Make Mine Cullen. The latter Daryl Douglas-trained filly is another favourite for the Breeders Crown Final. Plenty of punters are backing Make Mine Cullen at SportsBet as it is predicted that she is the only other real contender for the title. And it’s no wonder as she has an impressive winning record. Her most recent appearance in the Chariots of Fire on July 30 turned up a disappointing fifth place finish, but her three consecutive first place finishes preceding that proves that she is not to be taken lightly. In fact, in 17 starts in Australia this season, Make Mine Cullen has taken 11 wins.
Though, before she can compete for the Breeders Crown title, she has to make it though her first heat. She will be appearing in Heat 2 – the fourth race on the card set for 3:19pm this Sunday. Like Broadways Best, she’ll be facing a talented field that includes Cullens Angel in the very advantageous barrier two. The field also includes the talented Anzaz directly next to Make Mine Cullen in barrier seven. The rest of the field shaped up a little something like this:
Australasian Breeders Crown Heats: 4 YO Mares Heat 2 @ 3:19pm
No. |
Form |
Horse |
Trainer |
Driver |
Class |
Hcp |
| 1 | 33414 |
Miss Athens |
WK Bird | Greg Sugars | C2 M0 | FR1 |
| 2 | 13211 |
Cullens Angel |
PG Ford | Nathan Ford (C) | C10 M2 | FR2 |
| 3 | 0281s |
Witchwaywendy |
GJ Bailey | Rodney Petroff | C2 M0 | FR3 |
| 4 | S0303 |
Millwood Nebraska NZ |
LJ Justice | Lance Justice | C4 M1 | FR4 |
| 5 | 58893 |
Dreams of Heaven |
LJ Eastman | Neil McCallum | C6 M0 | FR5 |
| 6 | 21115 |
Make Mine Cullen |
GF Douglas | Daryl Douglas | C13 M6 | FR6 |
| 7 | 93732 |
Ananz |
PG Manning | Kerryn Manning | C17 M2 | FR7 |
| Second Row | ||||||
| 8 | s37s1 |
Keppel Bay |
AP Gath | Kate Gath | C2 M0 | SR1 |
| 9 | 6s386 |
Primanproper Lombo |
PG Manning | Glen Craven (C) | C0 M0 | SR2 |
| 10 | 61073 |
Three Card Brag |
DA Murphy | David Murphy | C3 M0 | SR3 |
These contenders are lining up for a shot at the $8,000 purse at Tabcorp Park on Sunday, August 15. Though, the real prize will be a place in the $100,000 Breeders Crown Final to be held on Sunday, August 22. The first six pacers to cross the finish line in their respective heats will advance. Don’t forget that Tabcorp Park will also host plenty of other Breeders Crown events, including some very interesting trots.