With seven harness racing drives in all, Crystal Hackett is optimistic but also cautious about her chances at Hawera today.

Hackett rates the prospects of three in particular with Higher Power, trained by her employers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, her “best of the day”.

The Father Patrick four-year-old has been racing against the best of his age group, including a fifth behind Habibti Pat in November’s NZ Trotting Derby at Addington.

The five-race winner lines up in Race 5, the Bebbington 90th Anniversary Trotting Cup at 5.34pm. He’s currently a $2.70 favourite.

“He hasn’t had his best manners of late but if he brings them and copes with the crossing I think he should go close,” says Hackett.

Today will be his grass track debut.

“I don’t think the grass will pull him up or anything, he should cope with it ok.”

Prepared her parents Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett, Paradise Ali is another rated a good chance in Race 8, the Hawera Racing Again Sunday and Tuesday Handicap Trot (6.49pm).

“We’ve put her on the unruly, if she steps away she should round up those maidens pretty easily, she’s quite a nice horse.”

She’s a $2.80 favourite.

Hackett’s also keen on Social Distancing for trainer Andrew Stuart in Race 6, The Boundary Tap and Kitchen Mobile Pace (5.59pm).

“Social Distancing has a tough draw but he’s been going really good races at Auckland so it’s a big drop back for him,” says Hackett.

He’s currently a $6 second favourite with Shezabettorgirl the hotpot at $1.70 for trainer Michael House and the country’s top driver Blair Orange.

The eight-race programme, transferred from Otaki, kicks off at 3.27pm.

“The weather is a bit yuck today so that could play a role in some of the results – it might be fence and leader dominated but it’s usually a very fair track and we look forward to getting down here every year.”

Her other drives are Maria Kirilenko(R1),Tuareg (R2), Kenny Hill(R3), and Fear The Diva(R4).

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk