Winton harness racing trainer Lauren Pearson is hopeful rather than confident when accessing her three harness racing runners’ chances at Winton tomorrow.

Wild East (Always B Miki) returns to the track after last racing in April.

“He went in the wind so he’s had a wind operation. He went okay at the workouts and would have to improve a bit but he’d been out for a long time. His work since the workout has improved. He should have had another workout but they were short (low nomination numbers) so we thought we’d help the Club out and get the maiden (race) off the ground,” Lauren said.

First starter King Hit (Raging Bull) lines up in the same race.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him but race day is another step up. We’re picking he’ll make it and take the next step. He’s fit enough and working well so he should be thereabouts.”

Formerly trained by Brent McIntyre, Huckleberry (The Pres) has joined the Pearson stable recently and lines up in Race Five.

“He’s a work in progress. Our main aim is to get him round. Out of all his starts he’s only got round once and that’s when he won. He’s picked up a lot of confidence getting around in his two workouts but our main aim is to get him around in one piece. We’ve taken the blinds off him, put a pole on him and some spreaders.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink