Cromwell owners have four of nine in fillies final

Cromwell couple Malcolm and Sarndra Little have the odds in their favour ahead of tomorrow night's $150,000 yearling sales fillies final.

They own four of the nine acceptors for the 1980m Addington feature in Havtime, Luvtahavtime, Allaboutjoy and Allaboutdreams.

The Littles could have had a massive five starters in the race, until a hoof issue forced the unraced Allaboutclass out.

''We had a fifth one, but she got an infected hoof, but four out of five isn't bad,'' Malcolm Little said.

The couple race Allaboutjoy on their own and share in the ownership of their other three fillies with Malcolm's uncle, Murray Little, of Invercargill.

Murray, who is only three years older than Malcolm, races his horses under the Havtime Breeding banner.

''It is going to be a big night. Who knows what is going to happen,'' Malcolm said.

There was no doubt about which horse spearheads the four starters Malcolm and Sarndra line up in tomorrow night's race.

''Havtime is definitely the most capable, and we are rapt with the draw for her,'' Malcolm said.

''Allaboutdreams is probably the next best off the rack, and then Allaboutjoy.

''Luvtahavtime is having her first start, so it is going to be a bit of an experience for her, but you never know.

''Brendon Hill [trainer] is quite happy with her.''

Havtime will start from barrier 3 for trainer Barry Purdon and driver Zachary Butcher.

The Mach Three filly took out the 2yr-old fillies sales series final last season.

She hinted she was getting back to that kind of form, after a slow start to her 3yr-old season, when running third to her star stablemate Belle Of Montana at Alexandra Park last week.

Each of Malcolm and Sarndra's four starters were purchased from the South Island section of the 2017 National Yearling Sales.

''We bought them all to start up a broodmare band - that has been our intention since we started buying these horses a few years ago.''

''We have been offered money for Shezacullengirl and Havtime, but we just want good black-type mares to start breeding from.

''So, we dived in two sales back and just decided to buy some nicely bred horses.''

Malcolm and Sarndra may not go home empty-handed if their quartet cannot take out the rich yearling sales fillies final.

The couple race Shezacullengirl, with Murray, and she will compete in a graded race at Addington tomorrow night.

Murray will also start Mach's Back at the Addington meeting.

Two weeks ago Mach's Back set a Southland mile (1609m) record when winning in 1.52.5 at Wyndham.

Both pacers are trained by Kirstin Barclay and Paul Ellis.

A rollercoaster past month in harness racing will not be over after tomorrow night's meeting for the three Littles.

Malcolm and Sarndra will offer a Bettor's Delight colt from Mach Three mare Popular at the National Yearling Sales in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Murray will offer a Bettor's Delight colt from smart former racemare, Survano Hanover, the same day.

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