by Greg Hayes
It is off to Montreal for round four of the 2017 World Driving Championships at Hippodrome Three Rivers and the half mile track should mean exciting action. The eleven international drivers will compete in four heats and the gate setup with be eight off the front and three off the second row. The meeting will be conducted on Wednesday night in Canada and will be telecast live on Sky Racing on Thursday morning. Race broadcaster Sugar Doyle has passed on his thoughts for each WDC event, concentrating on the chances of Australian representative Shane Graham. (All times shown are AEST)
Heat 15 – Race 5 at Hippodrome 3R – Shane Graham will drive Cabernet Seelster from barrier 10. (Thursday 10:54am on SKY)
Sugar says CABARNET SEELSTER gets her third start in just 5 days so – like Graham – she’s been very busy this past week. She’ll not get a chance to sit up close here – where she’d have a better chance at grabbing a share and with only 2 wins over the last 2 seasons – it’ll have to be get what you can with this 6YO daughter of Artistic Fella – the longest shot of these. *Biggest threats to win are likely 5 Maracasso (Marcus Miller USA), 6 Ninoscredit (James MacDonald CAN), 7 Imagine Speed (Dexter Dunn NZ) & 8 Taylor B Swift (Bjorn Goop SWE).
Heat 16 – Race 6 at Hippodrome 3R – Shane Graham will drive Number 8 Y S Suzanne from barrier 9. (Thursday 11:24am on SKY)
Sugar says Y S SUZANNE will follow out the rail horse as it is 8 horses on gate with 3 trailers – noting that she is leaving from post position 9. This trotting mare actually shows best when sitting on or near the lead and with that in mind – watch for Graham to stay close to #2 (pp1) SOS JUSTICE (Dexter Dunn) as that one does show good early speed. On paper Graham’s mare looks the best, of this lot, with 6 wins and $37,000 earned already in 2017. This will be the Aussie’s very best shot, at a WDC win, thus far in the competition. Giddy up mate! *Others to consider are 1 Holiday Spirit (Dexter Dunn NZ), 1A Tymal Recap (Marcus Miller USA), 5 Crown Point (Gerhard Mayr AUT) & 10 Federal Strike (James MacDonald CAN).
Heat 17 – Race 7 at Hippodrome 3R – Shane Graham will drive Don’t Tell Mom from barrier 8. (Thursday 11:54am on SKY)
Sugar says DONT TELL MOM has been an extreme longshot in each of his last 2 starts over this racetrack – finishing well back in each try. The tough outside post will not do him any favours here and I honestly can’t see him hitting the board against these. Get what you can Mr. Graham and look forward to the next race! *Wide open, but 3 Noloseblues (Rik Depuydt BEL), 6 Orator (Noel Baldacchino MLT) & 11 Old Fashioned Gal (Eirik Hoitomt NOR) are chances in a very tough race.
Heat 18 – Race 8 at Hippodrome 3R – Shane Graham will drive Jds Caleb Man from barrier 3. (Thursday 12:24pm on SKY)
Sugar says JDS CALEB MAN will race in the most competitive WDC event on the program. Graham’s mount appears to be facing a tougher group of foes this time out. The 11YO gelding tried lasix last time – it didn’t help – he goes back off of it for this test. This horse does have some back class (a 50-time winner & $484,000 earned lifetime) – he just has to find it to be a serious factor here. *I’m thinking 2 Hard Rock (Dexter Dunn NZ) & 7 Appleby Hanover (Bjorn Goop SWE) are the top players.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
