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By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk \u00a0<\/p>\n
With the Harness 5000 still four months away, northern trainer Roydon Downey is committed to having one starter there but a question mark remains about his second runner.<\/p>\n
Both Santapazienza and Saninarmbro have already meet the qualifying criteria for the new series at Ashburton on December 21. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“They are different types of horses – Saninarmbro has a lot of quick speed whereas the other fella likes to keep rolling,” says Downey, who’s based at Kumeu. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The Harness 5000 will feature 12 $60,000 finals for trotters and pacers whose sire stood for an advertised retail service fee of $5,000 or less in the breeding season of conception. This year the qualifying period is from July 3 to December 9, 2025 and to be eligible horses must compete in at least five race day starts within this period.<\/p>\n
“Santapazienza will definitely be going down,” says Downey.<\/p>\n
But there is a big “if” about the stablemate.<\/p>\n
“The mare (Saninarmbro) will go to the Winter Rewards in two weeks time at Cambridge left handed and we can go from there,” says Downey.<\/p>\n
Downey has two concerns about Saninarmbro’s suitability for a trip south. \u00a0<\/p>\n
“Her record left-handed is not good and she’s not the best traveller,” says Downey, “there is a risk taking her all the way down there and then going no good.”<\/p>\n
In contrast Santapazienza, named after a world famous golf course in Brazil, is a four-year-old going places, with three wins and seven placings from 17 starts .<\/p>\n
“He just keeps improving,” says Downey, “he doesn’t know how to race yet and just keeps stepping up – he just loves work.”<\/p>\n
Santapazienza is the only horse so far to have met the qualifying criteria in the 4YO Trotting Entire\/Gelding category while Saninarmbro’s division, the 5YO and Older Trotting Mares is getting busier by the week with seven horses already qualified.<\/p>\n
Through all the categories more than 330 horses are in the mix so far, with 37 having already qualified by having at least five starts. That’s more than double the 17 who had become eligible a week ago. Of them the “busiest” category so far is the 10 who have qualified in the 5YO and older Pacing Geldings and Entires.<\/p>\n
It’s a concept Downey is a fan of.<\/p>\n
“It gives the owner-trainer, the underdogs if you like, a chance to be on the bigger stage.”<\/p>\n