Stars to shine under Friday Night Lights
Michael Guerin • March 11th, 2025 1:06 PM • 3 min read
Alexandra Park awakens from its summer slumber this Friday as some of the biggest names come to town for the first major northern meeting of 2025.
As the countdown to the Harness Million meeting, the $1m Race by Betcha and even further afield the Rowe Cup begins, a mixture of young and old stars will make their way to The Park.
Auckland Cup winner Republican Party returns in the Lincoln Farms Founders Cup, facing the outside draw as well as Mo’unga, Chase A Dream, big summer mover Jolimont and his stablemate Kango.
Earlier in the night the two most exciting three-year-olds in the country Marketplace and Beside Me line up in their feature races, Marketplace having looked sharp and comfortable right-handed when he beat Mo’unga in a trial before the races last Friday. He will start a hot favourite in the Alabar Three-Year-Old Classic but Beside Me faces a stiffer task in the Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes off a second line draw for her Alexandra Park debut.
One of the surprises of the meeting is Oscar Bonavena back in town for the Greenlane Cup starting off a 30m handicap fresh from galloping early in the Hammerhead Mile at Menangle last Saturday night. He will start off a 30m handicap but will still be favourite in a small field.
Further south the other contenders for the title of our current best open class trotter Bet N Win and Muscle Mountain clash in the Fred Shaw NZ Trotting Champs with Bet N Win having a major advantage drawing the front line while Muscle Mountain will have to start off the second line.
The Addington meeting also features the Hector’s Premium Gin Autumn Free-For-All with Rakero Rocket starting his road to the $1m Race By Betcha at Cambridge's Night of Champions on Friday, April 4.
Photograph at the top of the page: Republican Party - After winning the Auckland Cup on New Years Eve - December 31 2024. Credit: Race Images
