Jilliby Dreamlover primed for Inter Dominion with Racing Cube success

Jilliby Dreamlover (Love You) proved that her win in last week’s Great Square was not fluke when she stormed home in a stirring finish to pip Crackerjack in the Prydes Easifood Racing Cube Trotting Feature at Albion Park on Friday evening.

Ideally drawn in two Jilliby Dreamlover was expected to lead and she did so with little effort but Crackerjack from out wide showed blistering speed to eventually take up the running while Jason Lee elected to race with a trail on Jilliby Dreamlover.

Crackerjack set a decent pace in front while I Am Hellbound sat outside the leader and New Zealand mare Dash Dosh having a one out and one back trail.

Crackerjack gave a bold display but it was a matter of when Jilliby Dreamlover would get the run. Dash Dosh pulled out three wide on turning for home but she was floundering under pressure. Crackerjack fought on determinedly but at the end Jilliby Dreamlover finished the better and she scored by a head. Mecarno who was well back ran on for third ahead of Sassy Galleon.

JILLIBY DREAMLOVER 10 JUL REPLAY

Jilliby Dreamlover has had 24 starts for 11 wins and nine placings and in the past she’s had to pay third fiddle to her more illustrious stable mates Keayang Zahara and Jilliby Ballerini.

But she’s clearly the star of the moment following her recent win in the Group 1 Great Square and in doing so has gained a start in next week’s $500,000 Inter Dominion Trotter Final.

The question is whether the four year old mare is advanced enough to take on more seasoned trotters namely last year’s winner Arcee Phoenix and the trotter of the moment Gus.

But she’s racing in such great heart that she has to go into the race a serious prospect and her trainers Marg and Paddy Lee will have her in tip top condition.

Crackerjack turned in a mighty performance to just get beaten and this lightly raced former New Zealander who has had only three Australian starts looks well primed to develop into a top class trotter.

Mecarno who finished third showed a welcome return to form. He’d been a bit disappointing at his previous runs seeming to lack any dash but last night it was heartening to see him finish on well without looking likely to take a hand in the finish.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink