By Adam Hamilton
TRICKY barrier draws have plagued Natalie Rasmussen going into Queensland’s biggest meeting of the season.
The rejuvenated Smolda looked the horse to beat on recent form in the $125,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake (2680m), but an awkward inside back row draw (gate eight) has made things tricky.
The classy Hug The Wind will have to come from outside emerging Victorian superstar Menin Gate once again in the $100,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2680m).
Menin Gate drew perfectly and looks a certain leader from gate two, while Hug The Wind has gate five.
Rasmussen also decided to back-up her mighty filly Fight For Glory in the Derby, but she also drew poorly – gate 11.
And Rasmussen’s recent impressive Premiers’ Cup winner Gentle Western faces a huge challenge from barrier 11 in the $50,000 Group 2 4YO Championship (2138m).
Back to the Blacks A Fake and gifted Victorian raider Philadelphia Man looks the hardest to beat from gate five.
The Emma Stewart-trained star returned from a five-month break to win comfortably in a free-for-all at Melton last Friday night.
The queries are the jump to 2680m second-up, the road trip and the sharp rise in class.
Gavin Lang’s plan will be to push forward and hunt for the lead, but does have speedy beginners like Destreos and Forever Gold inside him.
If the emergency (Jivin Cullen) misses a run, Smolda will follow-out behind Destreos, but the veteran is likely to be content to take a trail.
Rasmussen will be desperate to get away from the inside as soon as possible, citing the 2680m trip would “just what Smolda is looking for.”
Queensland champ Avonnova, who led throughout for his first Group 1 win and to upset Smolda in the Sunshine Sprint two weeks ago, faces a harder task from gate 12.
In the Queensland Derby, Menin Gate is sure to stifle the betting after thrashing a very similar field in last week’s Gold Coast Derby from a similar draw.
Burnaholeinmypocket is the other key runner after his sparkling Nursery Flying win two weeks ago, but he found it hard from a back row draw in the Gold Coast Derby when seventh and has the task ahead from gate 10.
“It’s going to be hard from there, but he wasn’t himself last week,” trainer Andy Gath said. “He seems a lot brighter now and I’m sure he’ll run much better.”
The 4YO Championship is all about Bling It On. He looks a league above his rivals, but heads into the race after the worst run of his career when a tiring last in the 4&5YO Championship last week.
In that race he zoomed to the front and pulled ferociously in front for driver Luke McCarthy. He was cooked on the home bend.
McCarthy will surely revert to driving him sit-sprint this week and Bling It On’s best would be too good for his rivals.
The other key runners are Iam Mr Brightside (gate three) and Alleluia (eight).
The other star act of the ripper Albion Park meeting will be Emma Stewart’s buzz filly Heavens Trend.
She’s going for six wins from just seven starts and heads into the race having posted sparkling wins in the heat and final of the NSW Breeders Challenge in record times at Menangle last month.
Harness Racing New Zealand
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
