A WEEK of Breeders Crown heats extravaganza continues with a cracking clash between stars Menin Gate and Burnaholeinmypocket at Bendigo on Thursday night.
At first glance most would say Menin Gate should just win on the strength of his recent string of “major” wins, but the barrier draw has made it interesting.
Burnaholeinmypocket, who has been freshened since losing form towards the end of his Queensland campaign, has the gate speed and draw (gate two) to lead.
While Menin Gate, who has stamped his authority by leading in all of his best wins, is likely to have to sit parked.
Sure Menin Gate looks to have improved, but, in the past he has been vulnerable when unable to find the lead in his races.
Despite the fact it’s a qualifying heat, it would be a major surprise if Burnaholeinmypocket didn’t want to hold the front over the 2150m trip.
The last time Andy Gath’s young star drew well and led, he brilliantly won the Group 1 Nursery Flying Stakes at Albion Park in a scorching 1min52.1sec mile rate for 1660m.
That Queensland flavour also extends to the first Crown heat at Bendigo on Thursday when the raw but immensely exciting My Kiwi Mate steps out again.
Although winless in three Queensland Winter Carnival runs, his efforts for third in the Gold Coast Derby and second in the Queensland Derby – both behind Menin Gate – were awesome.
The only trick for My Kiwi Mate this time is the draw. He’s snared inside the back row (gate eight), but looks to be classes above his rivals.
The other highlight of a fantastic Bendigo meeting is the return of NSW Derby winner Ideal For Real in the third Crown heat.
The Emma Stewart-trained colt ran a slashing second to Follow The Stars in a Vicbred semi-final on June 26, then ran miles below his best when a mystifying 12th in the final won by Menin Gate.
Stewart scrapped Queensland Derby plans to focus on priming Ideal For Real again for the Crown.
“We can only think he must have cut-off his air somehow to have gone that badly. He sprinted for 100m and was gone,” Stewart said. “All the signs have been really good since.”
Ideal For Real will stifle betting from gate five in a race where the major rivals look to be: Egodan (three), Lexus On The Beach (four), Sluggem (nine) and Mach Doro (10).
EMMA Stewart’s last-start South Australian Southern Cross final winner Lovelist is one of the topliners chasing a Breeders Crown semi-final berth through qualifying heats at Ballarat tomorrow night (Wednesday).
It’s the seventh race on the card and shapes as a fascinating battle with zippy Soho Tokyo drawn three, Lovelist in four, Rebel Diamond out in seven and major player Bamako Mali the lone back row runner from eight.
Stewart also has a strong hand in the first Crown heat at Ballarat with The Stunning One being the lone back row runner (gate eight).
Her major rivals is Marg Lee’s Keayang Ebonyrose from gate six.
The other heat is quite open, but much-travelled NSW filly Ameretto (gate five) will be favourite
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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