Kate Hargreaves and Alex Ashwood will make the trip from Shelbourne to Bendigo confident their second night of region-based racing will bring further success.
Having produced a win and a third from two starts when the Central region kicked off last Friday, the stable is optimistic promising two-year-old Lay The Smackdown and trotter Well Defined can put their best feet forward tonight.
Hargreaves told Trots Talk her two-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, who will contest the Southern Cross Office Equipment 2YO Pace at 7.21pm on Trots Vision, was well placed to build on his third place on debut at Echuca, where he galloped when leading but recovered to run third.
“I’ve got a pretty big opinion of him,” she said. “He’s got his fair share of ability, he can just get a bit rocky in his gate.
“At Echuca he did gallop, he actually hit a wheel and just put himself off stride. We are just putting him a bit further out in the cart now so that doesn’t happen.
“The bigger track at Bendigo will definitely help him. I’m excited to have him at the races, he’s an exciting horse. I think he’s a really great chance, if he does everything right he will be very hard to beat.”
As will Well Defined, says Hargreaves, when the five-year-old trotter steps out at 8.51pm in the Race Services Trot. He returns to a mobile start for the first time since June 1 last year, having run off a standing start penalty in every race since.
“I think he’s got a really great chance,” she said. “The field he’s in against, he has been racing a few better ones than what he’s racing against, and he doesn’t have to give them a start, because he’s been in starts and been off 20 and 30 metres.
“I think his form doesn’t really show just how well he’s going. He’s another one I’m confident on if he can have a little bit of luck, he always needs a little bit of luck.”
Lay The Smackdown is a $1.45 favourite with TAB.com.au, while Well Defined is $6.
A big day of racing awaits on Trots Vision, with the eight-race card at Tabcorp Park Melton kicking off at 1.07pm before the focus moves to Ballarat for the first at 6.20pm.
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