By Jonny Turner
An big drop in class could see Sweet Mary rewarded for her good recent form at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
The Brad Mowbray trained mare takes on an even line up of pacers after running second to Chitura in the Southern Speed Series Final at Winton last weekend.
Sweet Mary fought on strongly behind the winner in her 1.54.4 mile (1609m) effort.
The four-year-old meets a different kind of field under different circumstances on Thursday night.
Sweet Mary will have her first standing start in the Forbury Park meeting’s feature handicap pace over 2700m.
Mowbray said though it is unknown how his filly will handle her first look at the tapes, her sensible nature gave him hope she could step away cleanly.
“I don’t think it will be a real problem, but it is still a standing start and you never know what could happen.”
“But, she is a sensible horse, without a doubt.”
Sweet Mary has recovered well from her Winton outing and will line up at Forbury in good order.
“I am quite pleased with the way she has come through it.”
“I was wrapped with her going in to that race, the winner was just too good on the day.”
“I think she will give them a good shake at Forbury.”
Sweet Mary will clash with her stablemate Four Starzzz Shiraz in Thursday night’s race.
The eight-year-old, who is an experienced campaigner from a standing start, also won at Winton on Saturday.
Mowbray said on that run and his prior form the horse should be competitive.
“His last start second before his holiday was to Zadaka at Cromwell, so that is good form considering what he was racing last week.”
Despite having three zeros in his form line leading in to Thursday night’s race, Waytogo Bruno is likely to attract the interest of some punters from barrier 1 in the rating 40-55 mobile pace.
Mowbray said the horse should have few excuses from that alley and in a field that looks easier that the races he has lined up in recently.
“This is his last chance, he has got to shape up.”
“He has got no excuses, he is off the unruly, we are happy with him and he is happy within himself.”
Sharnae returns to racing in fillies and mares company on Thursday night.
She won a trial at Ashburton recently ahead of her resumption.
Despite that, Mowbray was weary that the five-year-old does not have the recent racing behind her that her opposition do.
“She has only had a mild trial, but she is a naturally fit horse.”
“If she got a handy enough sort of run it would not surprise me if she finished off alright.”
Tom Rule will be out to end a poor run of form in Thursday night’s junior drivers’ event.
His disappointing recent form meant a win would be a surprise, Mowbray said.
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