Bettor Be Supreme to resume

Lightly-raced mare Bettor Be Supreme will reappear after a nine-month absence and her clash in the $20,000 TABtouch Pace with other outstanding mares Quite A Delight, Donegal Rundlescreek and Dodolicious promises to be a highlight of the ten-event harness racing program at Gloucester Park.

Busselton trainer Barry Howlett was quite conservative when assessing Bettor Be Supreme’s first-up prospects, saying that she would be tested by the race-hardened trio of mares.

However, he said that Bettor Be Supreme had overcome “quite a few problems” and was working in good style. “I don’t like to predict how she will go, but I expect her to run a good race. She’s got such high speed that she’ll probably go forward (from the No. 4 barrier).”

Chris Lewis said that he rated Bettor Be Supreme highly and was impressed with her versatility. “She can lead, breeze and come from behind,” he said. “She’s a very good mare who is coming back in the deep end. It’s a strong field.”

Bettor Be Supreme, a big, powerful pacer, has not appeared since she set the pace and wilted to fifth behind The Parade in the 2536m Empress Stakes late last February. She has won at 11 of her 15 starts in Western Australia after winning once from six starts in New Zealand.

Quite A Delight, trained and driven by Justin Prentice, will be fancied from barrier two at her first start for almost three months. She has had 30 starts for 11 wins, seven seconds and two thirds. She raced without cover for much of the way when a half-head second to stablemate Major Reality in the WA Oaks in May 2015.

Leading trainer Skye Bond holds a powerful hand with Donegal Rundlescreek (barrier one) and Dodolicious (three), with Donegal Rundlescreek winning in fine style at her past two outings, proving too strong at the finish for Dodolicious in both races.

Michael Blakemore has a splendid record in the sulky behind Donegal Rundlescreek, having driven her five times for three wins and two seconds. She should prove hard to beat.

Dodolicious (Ryan Warwick) is a model of consistency and has amassed $472,991 from 18 wins, nine seconds and two thirds from 33 starts.

Ken Casellas