Michelle’s driving choice an easy one as Group 2 opportunity knocks

There was never any question as to which of the two John Nicholson-trained stablemates Michelle Phillips would put her hand up to drive in the Group 2 APG Vic (4YO) Consolation Final at Melton.

The reinswoman will sit behind her favorite horse Sebs Choice, with Craig Demmler to jump into the sulky behind the only runner off the second row Alby Two Chains.

“There was never a doubt which horse I would drive,” she said of the son of Bettors Delight, who gave her the highlight of Phillips’ relatively short career when they won her home-town Warragul Pacing Cup at Sebs Choice’s previous start.

The gelding served notice he would be one of the main hopes in the Australian Pacing Gold consolation when he fought on bravely to finish fourth behind Beyond Delight after sitting parked in the heat at Ballarat last week.

“He did it tough in the heat, doing a fair bit of work in a pegs dominated race,” Phillips said. “He wasn’t far away from some awesome horses at Ballarat.”

Phillips believes Sebs Choice has an edge over the $1.40 favorite Beach Music, who was first up from a spell in her heat.

“He has race fitness on his side over Beach Music,” she said. “And showed how good he is when he went 1:53 sitting parked in winning his APG heat as a three-year-old last year. There is no doubting this horse.”

Bookmakers expect Beach Music to have derived plenty of benefit from her first up outing since finishing midfield behind champion filly Ladies In Red in the Vicbred Super Series final for three–year-old fillies at Melton on New Year’s Eve.

But she will need to be up for the fight, with Phillips revealing she was likely to chance her arm at the start of the 1720-metre sprint trip.

“Beach Music didn’t come out all that quick in her heat while Sebs Choice has got early speed, so we will go forward at the start and hopefully find the lead,” she said.