04 March 2021 | Paul Courts
A CHANGE of plans will see Victorian horseman Ray Harvey head over the border earlier than expected.
Successful with The Penny Drops at Globe Derby last weekend, Harvey earmarked the South Australia Trotters’ Cup as his potential return.
The Penny Drops was runner-up behind Izmok in last season’s edition.
The time honoured feature is part of the stellar April 17 program, which includes the South Australia Pacing Cup and Derby.
With The Penny Drops doing “a little too good this week” Harvey decided to make another interstate trip to contest Sunday’s Gawler Trotters’ Cup.
“I wasn’t planning to go for the Cup, but he has come through his last trip so well,” Harvey said. “If anything he has done a little too good this week as he’s pretty full of himself.
“So I figured the Gawler Cup was a good option, so back we go.”
With local Mark Billinger to take the reins, The Penny Drops is the sole starter from the 20-metre mark.
Foursharesmorebeers and Ymbro Wasted share the 30-metre back mark.
“It will be a harder for him this week for a couple of reasons,” Harvey said. “Firstly he’s gone back 10 metres on last week and some of those he beat such as Milly Magic are 20 metres better off compared to him this time.
“Plus it is a fair size field which means he has a lot of horses to get around.”
With the state’s main Trotters’ Cup still a priority, Harvey is yet to decide what path he will take to the handicap.
“If I get ambitious I may put him in the Horsham Cup,” Harvey said. “But there is the adage of ‘keep yourself in the best company and your horse in the worst’, so the Cup may not fit in with that.
“I will see how he is after this trip and may even give him a week off instead.”
- PAUL COURTS
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