Return of the Mistress and Larry is on again

This weekend sees the harness racing big guns in action in preparation for their upcoming feature races that will take place later on in Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand.

All eyes will be on outstanding mare Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) who is resuming at Menangle on Saturday evening after her epic all the way win in the Inter Dominion Final at Albion Park in July.

The mare has trialled well in her two recent appearances at Menangle to suggest that she will take a power of beating from the coveted pole draw. This is likely to be her only start before she contests the Group 1 $250,000 Victoria Cup at Melton on 17 October. Trainer Jason Grimson also has the speedy Hi Manameisjeff and he may well take up the running if Captains Mistress elects to take a trail.

For good measure the race also has Kingman (Always B Miki) engaged and although he didn’t do a great deal first up, this time he’s drawn barrier four and could take up a more handy position close to the lead. And when you have the likes of grand veteran Max Delight and top mare Lux Aeterna, harness racing patrons are in for a treat.

Leap To Fame will front up again at Albion Park on Saturday night and following his tough performance to win first up last week, should be fitter and suited to the 2138 metre journey.

Melton has a break this Saturday night where the focus shifts for the Geelong Cup meeting headed by the $25,000 Apco Geelong Pacing Cup. And trainer Jason Grimson looks to have a strong hand with the presence of Swayzee and Minos who are both on trial for the Victoria Cup. Minos has the better draw in five and could well take the lead. Swayzee will be suited by the 2570 metre trip but he has to come from the second row. He’s also on trial as to whether he will attempt to win his third New Zealand Cup at Christchurch in November.

The races also sees Eureka prospect Fox Dan who is hitting form at the right time and the evergreen veteran Bulletproof Boy comes into the event from barrier two.

The other highlight on a strong card is the McNamara Trotters Cup and here the prolific winning mare Rockinwithattitude has to come off 30 metres but she only has six rivals including the smart performer Imperial Monarch.

The highlight at Gloucester Park on Friday evening is the Group 1 Tabtouch Western Australia Oaks. The inform Miss Leopatra would have started favourite but she has the nightmare draw on the inside of the second row. However she is a class filly racing in great heart and will have the services of Gary Hall Jnr who replaces Jocelyn Young who drives Skyhigh Adda.

This gives the opportunity for the Greg and Skye Bond trained Skinny Dippin to break through as she is on the front row. She’ll be accompanied by her stable mates Cinch and Ima Booty Shaker who have drawn next to her on the inside. Skinny Dippin is likely to start favourite.

Globe Derby has the National Drivers Championship series on Saturday evening where twelve of the nation’s leading drivers will battle it out over a ten race card. Each driver will have seven drives and it should be a cracking series.

Finally Wagga and Newcastle will both stage New South Wales Breeders Challenge first round heats for the three year olds which will be keenly contested. At the Wagga events Dynamite Dan and Brooklyn Dan will be hard to beat in the colts and geldings while Willows Girl has the pole draw in the fillies event.

At Newcastle the races are far more open with Complete Stranger and Perfectdelight with strong prospects in the fillies while in the colts and geldings division sees the clash between the unbeaten Towering Fortune and Nocturnal who is resuming.

 

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink