Star mare Libertybelle Midfrew fared poorly in the random draw and will start out wide at No. 8 in the $23,000 International Health Mares Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But the Mike Reed-trained five-year-old has the speed and fighting qualities to overcome this distinct disadvantage and warm up for her campaign in the TABtouch interdominion championship, starting the following Friday night, with a victory over quality opposition, including Ideal Alice, Leda McNally and Jungle Jewel.
Libertybelle Midfrew should appreciate a return to racing against her own sex after contesting the 1730m Mount Eden Sprint against eight horses and geldings last Friday week when she started from barrier six and finished boldly from seventh at the bell to be third behind Waylade and My Hard Copy.
A week earlier Libertybelle Midfrew started from the outside barrier (No. 9) and unwound a spirited burst from tenth at the 700m to get up and win from The Parade at a 1.54.9 rate over 2130m.
The prospects of Ideal Alice, trained by Gary Hall sen. improved sharply when she drew the coveted No. 1 barrier, and Gary Hall jun. will be keen to set the pace before attempting to withstand last-lap challenges.
Ideal Alice is a smart frontrunner and punters would be best advised to disregard her last-start sixth behind the pacemaking The Court Jester over 1730m last Friday week. She started from the No. 8 barrier and was never in contention. It will be a vastly different kettle of fish from No. 1 this week.
Leda McNally, who made an excellent return to racing after a six-month absence when she led and won from Rocket Reign and Crusader Banner over 2130m last Friday night, will start from barrier six. She is at her best when she leads, but she is also quite versatile and is capable of unwinding a powerful finishing burst.
Jungle Jewel, to be driven by Colin Brown for Forrestdale trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is a talented sit-sprinter who is likely to be restrained from the No. 5 barrier before Brown asks her a strong late burst. A winner at 16 of her 55 starts, her past 14 starts have produced five wins, five seconds, three thirds and one fourth placing.
Serpentine trainer Michael Brennan has engaged Sydney horseman James Rattray to handle Pay Me Quick, who will start from barrier three. Pay Me Quick, who has finished third at each of her past two starts, will be at liberal odds. But Brennan is hoping that Rattray will repeat the dose when he brought Pay Me Quick home with a spirited late burst to win at odds of 19/1 at Gloucester Park in the first week of September when Rattray was driving at Gloucester Park for the first time.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
