Expensive Ego deserves to retain favouritism, Copy That is in all sorts and Kowalski Analysis is perfectly placed to continue trainer Mattie Craven’s brilliant start to Queensland’s winter harness carnival.
Those were Jason Bonnington’s headline reactions to Monday night’s barrier draw for the inaugural Rising Sun at Albion Park.
“The draw started in somewhat anti-climactic fashion with gun three-year-old Krug drawing gate one from a pair of possible options and Amazing Dream landing gate three as was already set in stone,” Bonnington said.
“All eyes were then on Copy That and Expensive Ego, who drew gates 13 and nine respectively.
“Without doubt both runners will now be worried about the emerging Kowalski Analysis, who possesses epic gate speed and could cause a Victorian blowout if he crosses from gate four.”
The TAB has Expensive Ego as marginal favourite for Saturday night’s race at $2.70, with Krug $3, Copy That $7.5 and Kowalski Analysis $9.
Craven’s partner Sofia Arvidsson will drive Kowalski Analysis – who hasn’t raced since early March – with fellow Victorian Anthony Butt opting to take the reins of Copy That.
Multiple Group 1 winner Amazing Dream is a former New Zealander now in the care of Avalon-based trainer Nathan Purdon.
The $250,000 Rising Sun is for pacers aged three and four and carries Group 1 status.
>> READ MORE: Border-hopping Purdon picks up another star Kiwi mare
RISING SUN, SATURDAY, ALBION PARK, 7.45pm
1 11221 KRUG NZ Cran Dalgety,
2 s1431 KASHED UP Gemma Hewitt, Brendan Barnes
3 24314 AMAZING DREAM NZ Nathan Purdon,
4 2309s KOWALSKI ANALYSIS Matthew Craven, Sofia Arvidsson (C)
5 11521 BUNDORAN NZ Amanda Turnbull, Amanda Turnbull
6 13311 ILIKEMEBETTOR (Em 1) Belinda McCarthy, Luke McCarthy
7 11213 SEND IT Brad Hewitt, Brad Hewitt
—————————— Second Row ——————————
8 82633 BLACKSADANCE Chantal Turpin, Pete McMullen
9 21111 EXPENSIVE EGO Belinda McCarthy, Luke McCarthy
10 4s111 SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS NZ Belinda McCarthy, Luke McCarthy
11 43141 CRUNCH TIME Rickie Alchin, Nathan Dawson
12 32436 MACH DA VINCI NZ Peter Hanson, Shane Graham
13 11291 COPY THAT NZ Ray Green, Anthony Butt
