By Adam Hamilton
Leading trainer David Aiken will flex his Grand Circuit muscle this weekend.
Aiken unleashes his two pacing big guns, Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay, in different states as they prepare for a showdown in the Group 1 Len Smith at Menangle on June 25.
Hectorjayjay will be first to step-out when he starts from gate six in the Young Pedro free-for-all (1720m) at Melton. It’s his first run since a fifth in the Miracle Mile at Menangle back on February 25.
Lennytheshark, who famously won the Miracle Mile which Hectorjayjay was spelled after, runs at Menangle on Saturday night in the Group 3 Golden Mile (1609m).
Hectorjayjay faces the smaller and easier of the two fields and should be able to use his renowned early brilliance to lead from gate six, although speedy veteran Maximan has drawn the pole.
Regular driver Josh Aiken takes the reins on Hectorjayjay at what will be his only lead-up before the Len Smith, in which he came from behind and sprinted past Lennytheshark to win last year.
Lennytheshark also gate six and will dominate betting, but has some serious rivals in rejuvenated Kiwi pacer My Field Marshal (gate one) and Tiger Tara (13).
Lennytheshark’s two runs since the Miracle Mile have been well-spaced wins in the Kilmore Cup (March 18) and Bulli Cup (April 29).
The Bulli Cup was billed as match-race between Lenny and Tiger Tara – who went into the race on a five-win streak – but Lennytheshark burned across to the lead and won strongly, while Tiger Tara parked and battled away from a close seventh in a slick 1min49.7sec mile.
The Menangle meeting also features a host of NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals, including Mark Purdon’s exciting youngster Sicario, who has the outside draw (12) in the first semi of the two-year-old colts and geldings series.
Sicario boasts four wins from five starts and is raced by Jean and Bill Feiss, who are enjoying monster season through the deeds of Vincent, Spanish Armada as well as Elle Mac and Sicario.
Back at Melton Friday, dominant trainer Emma Stewart underlines her amazing depth in juvenile ranks with eight of the 18 starters across the Youthful Stakes for colts and geldings as well as fillies.
She trains half the field of eight in the colts and geldings race where Big Bad Bruce (seven) and Poster Boy (four) are the big chances. Her other runners are: Major Times (six) and Concealment (eight).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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