By Adam Hamilton
NEWLY-CROWNED Inter Dominion champion Smolda headlines a strong Kiwi presence across a big weekend of feature racing in Australia.
Smolda steps out for the first time since his powerhouse Gloucester Park triumph on December 9 when he drops sharply in grade in Saturday night’s $100,000 Group 1 South Australian Pacing Cup (2645m) at Globe Derby.
Despite the lack of racing and an outside back row draw (gate 12), Smolda looks a league above his rivals and is a $1.40 favourite on the Aussie TAB.
“The break is just what he needed and he’s raring to go again after a long and hard campaign in Perth,” Purdon said. “He’s ready to run a big race, but there is room to improve with the Hunter Cup still a month away.”
The only rivals with claims on testing him at all appear to be Brent Lilley’s former Kiwi pacer Messini (gate 11) and emerging Victorian Jilliby Jagger, who could press forward and find the lead from gate six.
But the gruelling 2645m trip plays right into Smolda’s corner.
For Globe Derby he heads to the Ballarat Cup on January 21 and a defence of his Hunter Cup title on February 4.
Also at Globe Derby, another Lilley-trained former Kiwi pacer King Solomon stifles betting in the South Australian Derby from gate four after two wins and a third since crossing the Tasman.
Over in Perth on Friday night, classy Kiwi Franco Nelson has finally had some overdue luck in the barrier draws.
Temporarily in the care of Greg and Skye Bond, Franco Nelson drew wide and was never a chance in a leader dominated race when seventh at Gloucester Park last week at his first outing since an eye-catching fifth in the Inter Dominion final.
Franco Nelson needed a good draw to be a winning chance in Friday night’s $300,000 Group 1 Fremantle Cup and it came with gate three.
Importantly, he has drawn inside key rivals Chicago Bull (four), Beaudiene Boaz (five), Soho Tribeca (six), Our Jimmy Johnstone (seven) and Bettors Fire (nine).
Based on what we saw during the Perth Inter Dominion, Franco Nelson should be able to hold those outside him and be a chance of finding the lead from speedy polemarker Mynameiskenny.
If he leads, Franco Nelson will take quite some beating over the 2536m around Gloucester Park.
The Aussie TAB has opened Franco Nelson $3 equal favourite with Chicago Bull, who ran a slashing second to Beaudiene Boaz in last week’s Village Kid Pace over 2130m.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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