Trots Centre: Kate keen on her Mildura crew

In-form trainer Kate Hargreaves is hoping to continue her winning run at Mildura and, with five strong chances, is every chance to do so.

Hargreaves, who has a brilliant record since setting up her Shelbourne stable, will gear up The Knight Star (race two), Wow You Can Dance (race five), Power Of Faith (race seven), Nikks Pick (race nine) and Dream Asset (race 10) on Friday night.

All of them are rated as strong chances in the market and Hargreaves agrees.

“I think Wow You Can Dance is probably my best hope, and I think Dream Asset first-up - if she gets a bit of luck - she’s a good chance too,” Hargreaves said.

“But they have all got chances really.”

Hargreaves said Wow You Can Dance would be hard to beat in the Tenderprint Australia Pace over 1790m.

“He’s been racing really well and he strikes another winnable race, getting in with the claim,” she said.

“He will need a little bit of luck early to get up amongst the action, but he is in terrific form.”

Hargreaves said she was confident Dream Asset was in fine fettle for the Park Douglas Printing Pace over 1790m, despite the four-year-old mare not racing since August last year.

“I am really happy with her work at home; probably the past two weeks she has really come on, so I couldn’t be happier with her in that regard,” she said.

“Obviously being first up and being drawn a little bit awkwardly might make things a little bit tricky, but I think she sort has got class on this field.

“I’m confident she’ll run a good race, and I think she’s fit and ready to go, so I don’t think being first up will be too much of a query for her.”

It’s been a big couple of years for Hargreaves. After a brilliant 2019-20 season in which she won 118 races, Hargreaves capped off last year by winning the Group 1 Skyvalley@Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series Trot Final for two-year-old colts and geldings with Dont Care.

She said keeping the horses happy - and knowing their mark - were keys to success.

“I like to keep them happy and in routine. Happy horses always race well,” she said.

“I think (it is) also how we place them; we’re not afraid to travel and Alex (Ashwood) does have a good eye for horses that we can get for our owners, win a few races and then turn over.

“We’re not racing the same horses all the time and then they get to their mark. We are racing horses that are ready to go through their grades, and they do that and then we move them on. I think that is probably a big key to our success and I have to give credit to Alex for that.”

Hargreaves on her other chances at Mildura on Friday night:

THE KNIGHT STAR - THE GATEWAY PACE (1790M)

“He always races well up there. This is a little bit of a drop in class for him. He has been racing back down here in a bit stronger company, so he is probably going better than his form suggests. He hasn’t drawn well so he will need a bit of luck.”

POWER OF FAITH - MILDURA PACING CUP CARNIVAL APRIL 6-10TH PACE (1790M)

“She’s pulled up terrific (after her last run).  I think she is just getting better and better each run. I quite like her, she’s a nice little mare who always runs an honest race, so I think she will be thereabouts again.”

NIKKS PICK - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW STENHOUSE PACE (1790M)

“She likes to lead and run along so drawing one will really suit her. She goes best when out in front so she’s a really good chance of winning.”

TALKING TROTS ON SENTRACK:

Join Jason Bonnington from 11am-1pm each weekday for Trots Life on SENTrack, which airs on 1593AM in Melbourne, 89.1FM in Muldura, 1539AM in Sydney, 1053AM in Brisbane, 1620AM on the Gold Coast, 657AM in Perth, 801AM in Gosford, 96.9FM in Ingham, 99.1FM in Atherton and 1575AM in Wollongong.

Click here to listen live and for links to download the SEN app.