A tricky but tantalising race night is in Kerryn Manning’s path as the Team Teal ambassador readies for the greatest all-trotting evening on the Australian calendar.
There is plenty of risk among two of her temperamental Group 1 trotters but the potential rewards are also huge, particularly given Manning will wear the teal silks for WomenCan, with every win by a reinswoman adding $400 to the total to fight ovarian cancer.
“Any win is good at any time, but when you also win money for such a good cause it does make it that bit more special,” Manning said.
Saturday night is the primary Team Teal celebration, with close to 400 guests to pack the Legends Room at Tabcorp Park Melton, including cancer researchers, doctors and survivors, who will share a common goal to raise funds and increase awareness throughout the community.
The night will be packed with prizes, silent auctions, raffles, ambassador interviews and Group 1 racing, headlined by the $100,000 Hygain Australian Trotting Grand Prix, which has drawn some of Australasia’s best.
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Among that number is trainer Kari Males’ Red Hot Tooth, who Manning will again pilot from gate one, hoping to go one better than in the Great Southern Star when beaten a lip by Tornado Valley.
A very similar scenario presents, with Tornado Valley drawn in gate three and likely to challenge Red Hot Tooth for the lead, while outstanding Kiwi trotter Temporale separates the pair off the front row.
“Red Hot Tooth is pretty quick,” Manning said. “The first 100 metres will play a big part. She’s got the gate speed to hold them and then choose whether to hand up and to who.”
The Grand Prix is a significant trophy that Manning would love to see in Red Hot Tooth’s cabinet, particularly after she went so close on February 2.
“I thought on the line (in the Great Southern Star) I got there,” Manning said. “She just tries hard every time. It would be nice to see her win a big one, she deserves too and the draw brings her into it.”
Manning is also prominent in two of the night’s other Group 1s.
In the Alan Mance Holden Need For Speed Prince Final she will steer Dublin Chubb for her father Peter Manning, with the Lawman gelding to start outside the back row after breaking in the score up in his heat. That he recovered to finish second and qualify for tonight’s $60,000 is testament to his ability.
“He’s naughty,” Manning said. “He always tends to get a bit excited in his races. He has settled a bit now in the stalls, but he gets a bit excited when he goes on to the track and tends to overdo it.
“He did put a few good runs together when he was able to lead and do his own thing, but in the field he’s not as good because he can tend to pace when you grab hold of him.”
That makes being drawn outside on the back row less than ideal, but at least he’ll have room to breath and Manning said she expected to save him for a late swoop.
“It is still a damn hard field, there should be a bit of speed and if they go hard it will be a bonus and he will come with one run,” she said.
Manning will steer another challenging customer in Lucinda Mac in the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final, the $50,000 Group 1 for trotting mares.
To start from gate four for trainer Maree Campbell, Manning said the five-time winner “has talent, a few quirks and a lot of attitude”.
“When she brings her A game she has good ability,” Manning said. “I will probably follow across I Am Pegasus, there could be space behind the leader, but otherwise she will be in the running line.
“Hopefully she will settle in and get a nice run and if the tempo is on it probably suits. The mile doesn’t suit as well as the longer, but she’s an each-way chance.”
The remaining Group 1 is the IRT Australia Need For Speed Princess Final at 7.13pm, with Anton Golin’s Im Ready Jet installed $2.10 favourite with TAB.com.au, while Team Teal ambassador Jodi Quinlan’s a $5 chance to register another win for the cause on Illawong Stardust.
To enjoy every moment be sure to get trackside or watch live on Trots Vision at thetrots.com.au.
