Bet N Win favoured to win Fred Shaw

Ben Hope says tonight’s $100,000 Fred Shaw NZ Trotting Champs at Addington is no time to get heroic with Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill).

So expect the giant trotter to be driven cold in the Group 1 after key rival Bet N Win (What The Hill) gained the tactical advantage in the draw.

The pair dominate betting in the 2600m mobile but Bet N Win and has drawn six while Muscle Mountain starts from two on the second line, following out stablemate Midnight Dash.

In-form One Over All starts from barrier 7 and most punters will be thinking Bet N Win should work forward and either want to stay in front or, more likely, take a trail on One Over All.

That doesn’t leave Hope, driving Muscle Mountain for parents Greg and Nina, many options.

“It looks a good race to drive him for speed,” says Hope.

“We follow out the stablemate who is a good beginner so I think we will get a good run through but the other two favourites should go forward and get in front of us.

“We could go sit parked but I think at this stage of his career we can’t do that all the time so I’d love to drive him for one run at them.
 
“If One Over All puts some speed into the race we can still win and while this is a Group 1 the really big race is the TAB Trot in three weeks.

“So we are out there to win but it won’t be easy.”

If Bet N Win leads or trails he should live up to his $1.50 price as he has raw speed and the ability to follow a good tempo. This looks his race to lose.

While One Over All’s trainer-driver Gavin Smith’s tactics will be crucial in the Group 1 trot they could also determine the outcome of the Hector’s Premium Gin Free-For-All, the pacing feature of the night.

Smith will drive Rakero Rocket for trainer Tom Bamford as the pair start their road to the $1million Race by Betcha at Cambridge on April 4.

Rakero Rocket is the best horse in the race but hasn’t since winning at Nelson on January 12 but has trialled twice.

In the last of those he paced a 55.5 second last 800m to suggest he is forward enough to win but whether Smith wants to charge forward early and test that fitness three weeks out from the biggest race of his career will be telling.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand