.jpg)
There is a fair chance Danny and Jo Zavitsanos won’t know which way to look during Friday night’s $100,000 Alabar Bloodstock Nutrien Equine Classic 3YO Colts and Geldings Final at Bendigo.
The Zavitsanos couple own "Team Zav" - Victoria’s only TAB Eureka slot holder - which will be represented by heat winners Oliver Dan and Petracca (pictured), along with Our Vinnie.
Victoria’s leading reinsman James Herbertson this week picked up the drive on Oliver Dan (barrier 11), while Mark Pitt has elected to take the reins behind favourite Petracca (barrier three).
Ironically, Herbertson has driven Petracca in a trial and was suitably impressed.
“Petracca felt very impressive and has extraordinarily high speed. He is capable of cruising around and run a 55-second half pretty easily,” Herbertson said.
Herbertson said he would let the race unfold rather than harbor any pre-race plans on Oliver Dan.
“It will depend on the race tempo whether we need to make a mid-race move or take a sit and hopefully get a cart into it off a genuine speed,” he said.
In the 2YO Colts and Geldings Final, Herbertson is out to maintain his unbeaten record on the Stewart-trained Bay Of Biscay, who reeled off a 53.75sec last half in his heat win.
“He has incredible speed and it’s scary how easily he does it,” he said.
“He is perfectly gaited and you don’t have to ask him to do it. To run that sort of half in the heat, two-year-olds just don’t do it.”
Herbertson acknowledged Bay Of Biscay’s inside second row draw isn’t ideal.
“I’m not really happy with the draw, and I’ll be looking to get off the pegs and give him every hope,” he said.
Mark Pitt is also set to play a major role in the 3YO Fillies Final when he partners the Stewart-trained Sweet Bella, who is unbeaten in four lifetime starts.
Pitt said the daughter of Sweet Lou would strip fitter for her first-up heat win after sitting parked outside the leader.
“She only had the one trial leading into the heat and she should be hard to beat from the draw as she can do it tough if she has to,” Pitt said.
The unbeaten NSW filly Lux Aeterna, who is first-up since winning the Bathurst Gold Tiara Final in March, appears the horse to beat in the 2YO Fillies Final after landing a favourable front row barrier (three).
Impressive heat winner Ignite The Fire looks the main danger, however has to contend with a wide front row gate.
Toby McKinnon, Kirsten Graham and Steve Cleave will bring you all the action from Bendigo, with the wall-to-wall TrotsVision coverage kicking off shortly before the first race at 5.57pm.
Across the eight finals for graduates of the Nutrien Equine Standardbred Sales, almost $1million in prizemoney is up for grabs at Lord’s Raceway tomorrow night.
TUNE IN at BENDIGO on Friday
First Race: 5.57pm Last Race: 9.43pm
Racecaller: Lachlan McIntosh with Toby McKinnon, Kirsten Graham and Steve Cleave on the TrotsVision panel.
TrotsVision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: LISTEN LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
Winner of the Week
EL CAMINO, by American Ideal out of Morgan Abby, at Menangle on August 5.
Breed your next winner with Woodlands Stud, supporter of Trots Centre
