By Michael GuerinThe favourites have been handed no favours for the $250,000 Woodlands Derby, the new signature race of Cup week at Alexandra Park. While it is still Cup week in Auckland, the Trotting Cup has moved to December 31, where it seems to sit better in the overall harness racing calendar. That promotes the Derby to the highlight of the harness racing week, a fair trade off considering the depth and quality of the classic in the last decade. But while there is plenty of both in Friday night's version, it is shaping as a trick for punters with favourites Ultimate Machete and More The Better drawn poorly. The Derby competes with the City Of Auckland Free-For-All and the Young Guns Final for race of the night though.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 06, 2017 15:56 UTC