Aaron White previews Friday's Night Of Champions
Aaron White • April 2nd, 2025 5:02 PM • 4 min read
RACE 1 - 5:08PM
$25,000 BRECKON FARMS MOBILE TROT 2200m.
6. Mazeppa, 10. Travelin Soldier, 5. Crackerjack, 1. Luby's Luck.
6. MAZZEPPA has put two very good victories together since moving to the country’s leading trainers of square-gaiters. Although getting things wrong at the start last time looks hard to beat again. 10. TRAVELIN SOLDIER is a nice up and coming type from the Herlihy Stable that should appreciate the mobile beginning. 5. CRACKERJACK is a local trotter that shown potential through his first preparation. 1. LUBY'S LUCK her best career form to date has come on left-handed turning tracks. The inside draw should also assist.
Betcha $100 Play: $50 Win: 6. Mazeppa. $50 Boxed % Trifecta: 1 x 5 x 6 x 7 x 9 x 10.
RACE 2 - 5:33PM
$25,000 IRT DINNY JOHNSTONE 2YO JUVENILE MOBILE PACE 1700m.
6. Fugitive, 2. Andretti, 4. Rahm, 1. Lincoln Lover.
6. FUGITIVE created a huge impression with his powerful Auckland debut victory from barrier 1. Draws further up the track for this but should remain unbeaten. 2. ANDRETTI tried hard in defeat behind Fugitive on debut after facing the breeze. He draws to the inside of his main rival tonight which could see him get closer. 4. RAHM yet to live up to his trial form. The ability is definitely there. 1. LINCOLN LOVER with the aid of the inside draw needs to be covered in First 4 bets.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 Exacta: 6 : 2.
RACE 3 - 5:58PM
$25,000 N40 RACING DOROTHY CUTTS LADIES INVITATIONAL MOBILE PACE 2200m.
6. Always B Charlie, 10. Iron Brigade, 8. Colin McBride, 4. Spirit Of Waiheke.
6. ALWAYS B CHARLIE returns to Cambridge where he does possess decent stats. His last success, a half a dozen starts ago was from this barrier draw and was pushed forward to lead most of the way and did beat Colonel Lincoln. A nice value bet. 10. IRON BRIGADE chased hard when runner-up last Friday night in a stronger field behind The Surfer. 8. COLIN MCBRIDE is locally trained and has run some handy races at Auckland since coming to the North Island. 4. SPIRIT OF WAIHEKE finished purposefully to grab her 4th career victory 25 March.
Betcha $100 Play: $25 Each Way: 6. Always B Charlie. $50 Boxed % Quinella: 4 x 6 x 8 x 10 x 11.
RACE 4 - 6:24PM
$40,000 CHARLIE HUNTER NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL HANDICAP TROT 2700m.
9. Lord Popinjay, 1. Castana, 7. American Muscle, 6. High Energy.
9. LORD POPINJAY only blemish in the form line came in the Greenlane Cup. Back to an intermediate grade trot tonight and the 2700m will help negate the 30m handicap. 1. CASTANA has been racing well recently which will have his confidence levels high and gets a head start over most of the opposition. 7. AMERICAN MUSCLE is the Northern Breeders Stakes winner 4-starts back over this distance at Auckland so must be respected. 6. HIGH ENERGY her last win was on the grass at Hawera. The 2700m should suit.
Betcha $100 Play: 30 Win & $70 Place: 9. Lord Popinjay.
RACE 5 - 6:54PM
$50,000 MAGNESS BENROW SIRES STAKES 3YOF SEMI-FINAL 1 MOBILE PACE 1700m.
9. Beside Me, 3. Winelight, 6. Arafura, 1. Without You.
9. BESIDE ME paced rings around most of these at Auckland last start. A wee concern drawing the inside of the 2nd row over 1700m. 3. WINELIGHT has produced two solid placings to open this preparation and drawn to be prominent again. 6. ARAFURA caught in the final stride in what was a stirring home straight battle with Stella Rouge at Auckland a fortnight ago. 1. WITHOUT YOU receives her best draw for some time and certainly has the ability to make her presence felt from barrier 1.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 % Trifecta: 9 : 1, 3, 5, 6 : 1, 3, 5, 6 :
RACE 6 - 7:20PM
$50,000 GARRARDS SIRES STAKES 3YO C & G SEMI-FINAL 1 MOBILE PACE 1700m.
2. Got The Chocolates, 3. Midnight Miki, 11. Captain Sampson, 5. Carrera Hombre.
2. GOT THE CHOCOLATES was best of the rest behind Marketplace in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million at Auckland last start. Will take a power of beating from this draw over 1700m. 3. MIDNIGHT MIKI did well off a horror draw in the Harness Million. Much better drawn for this short course race. 11. CAPTAIN SAMPSON will have taken improvement from his Auckland resumption a couple of weeks ago, draw hurts though. 5. CARRERA HOMBRE has been unlucky in both appearances after a strong maiden success.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 % Trifecta: 2 : 3 : 5, 8, 10, 11.
RACE 7 - 7:49PM
(Listed) $600,000 THE TAB TROT (MOBILE TROT) 2200m.
3. Oscar Bonavena, 6. The Locomotive, 4. Arcee Phoenix, 9. Bet N Win.
3. OSCAR BONAVENA cruised to his Waikato Flying Mile last Friday night. Draw gives driver Mark Purdon options. The best of the kiwi hopes. 6. THE LOCOMOTIVE is the reigning Inter-Dominion champion that has a real appetite for success and is out of the grand mare La Coocaracha. Sure to have a train load of support from across the Tasman. 4. ARCEE PHOENIX finished 4th in the inaugural TAB Trot last year. 9. BET N WIN is budding superstar that’s come a long way in just 20 race starts. Has the game to win but gets a sticky draw.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 Win: 3. Oscar Bonavena.
RACE 8 - 8:19PM
$25,000 HAPPY HIRE THE RACE COUNTRY CUP HANDICAP PACE 2700m.
12. We Walk By Faith, 9. The Surfer, 7. Two Eye See, 11. Cos I Can.
12. WE WALK BY FAITH is the class horse of this field as indicated by his 25m handicap. Ran home well in the City Of Auckland FFA last start. Having first standing start but is clearly the horse to beat. 9. THE SURFER secured last week’s Bay Of Plenty Country Cup in fine fashion. Should be right in the fight again. 7. TWO EYE SEE likes racing at Cambridge Raceway and was a bold 4th behind The Surfer last Friday. 11. COS I CAN possesses good course and distance statistics and should’ve taken benefit from his fresh Auckland outing a fortnight ago.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 Win: 12. We Walk By Faith.
RACE 9 - 8:52PM
(Listed) $1,000,000 THE RACE BY betcha (MOBILE PACE) 2200m.
2. Don Hugo, 8. Leap To Fame, 7. Merlin, 3. Republican Party.
2. DON HUGO won the New South Wales Slot Race (The Eureka), then went on to claim the Inter-Dominion Final and Miracle Mile. Couldn’t have wished for a better draw. 8. LEAP TO FAME the all-conquering Australian superstar that’s got the visitors draw. Looking for his 50th career victory in this. Won’t shirk the task ahead. 7. MERLIN is out to defend his title from last year. Loves racing in the Waikato and can double-up. 3. REPUBLICAN PARTY draws well to find a prominent position on what should be a hot speed.
Betcha $100 Play: $50 Exacta: 2 : 7, 8.
RACE 10 - 9:26PM
$25,000 DUNSTAN HORSEFEEDS MOBILE TROT 2200m.
7. Rewiri Hill, 3. Trifolium, 8. Patrick Mahomes, 6. Conrad H.
7. REWIRI HILL found the line well when runner-up in last Friday night. Mobile conditions should suit again. 3. TRIFOLIUM has run two good races since his change of stables and drawn to be handy throughout. 8. PATRICK MAHOMES won well under these conditions 25 March. Drawn might not stop him from going back-to-back. 6. CONRAD H races well at Cambridge with 2 wins and 8 placings from his 20 starts.
Betcha $100 Play: $100 % Boxed Trifecta: 2 x 3 x 6 x 7 x 8.
Best Bet: R9. 2. Don Hugo.
Next Best: R8. 12. 12. We Walk By Faith.
Value Bet: R3. 6. Always B Charlie.
