WITH final places on the line, many contenders will be relying on strong performances across this weekend to solidify their positions in next Saturday’s inaugural Rising Sun at Albion Park.  

With that in mind, this is what we know at this point.  

With PATBEACHSTORM declining his wild card invitation, we are now left with three confirmed invitees. 

Last week’s stunning Redcliffe Derby winner KRUG is now the lone three-year-old at this stage with the one gate guaranteed should no others choose to take on the older rivals.  

COPY THAT will be seen for the first time on Australian soil under race conditions tomorrow (Saturday) night in the Wondais Mate, before he takes his place in the worlds richest race for three and four-year-olds. 

The last of the confirmed starters is the locally bred EXPENSIVE EGO, with the Chariots Of Fire champion and Miracle Mile runner up in search of his third Group 1 in six starts at the Albion Park circuit next Saturday.  

That leaves nine remaining positions up for grabs, with several prospects looking to cement their spot this weekend. Here is where you can follow some potential aspirants Saturday evening: 

Albion Park: 

Race 2 – Blackasadance, R3 – Will The Wizard, R7 – Spirit Of St Louis and Italian Lad, R8 – Ranger Bomb, Race 9 – Ilikemebettor and Tommy Lincoln, Race 10 – Pelosi, Race 11 – Kashed Up, American Dealer and Big Wheels.  

Bendigo: 

Race 7 – Santa Casa Beach and Race 9 – Bondi Lockdown 

Menangle: 

Race 3 – Chubby Checker and Arden Messi, Race 4 – Burnham Boy & Loorim Lake.  


AMAZING DREAM trialled sharply on Tuesday at Albion Park in preparation to take her place in the field, with a highly likely chance that she will be partnered by Mark Purdon. She will also draw inside the four-year-old boys with a preferential draw to age, then sex.  

ZEUSS BROMAC was defeated last weekend in a slowly run open class event however continues to set his sights towards the $250,000 feature fourth up into his campaign. His stablemate JAY OK is now taking a well-deserved breather and wont make the trip North.  

With several false starts since his G1 Tab Regional State Final victory, SEND IT will be looking to take his place in the field fresh, and arrived in Queensland this week. As did Chariots Of Fire placegetter KOWALSKI ANALYSIS, who hasn’t been seen since the Carnival Of Miracles, however has been purposefully targeted towards the race off the back of two trials.  

Rickie Alchin will be hoping to get a start with one of a trio of eligible trainees, in particular speedster CRUNCH TIME, although his three year olds CAPTAIN CRUSADER and WATTS UP SUNSHINE have also raced well in Queensland this campaign.  

Horses currently still in the market who most certainly wont be there include BOOTS ELECTRIC, PERFECT STRIDE, PACIFICO DREAM and GOVERNOR JUJON.   

With all this in mind, who would make up your Rising Sun field? 

My field before this weekend – Krug, Copy That, Expensive Ego, Amazing Dream, Send It, Kowalski Analysis, Will The Wizard, Pelosi, Crunch Time, Zeuss Bromac, Spirit Of St Louis and Kashed Up.  


The feature race on Albion Park’s Saturday night card will be the Wondais Mate over the sprint trip, where SPANKEM has been installed as an odds-on TAB favourite from the five gate.

BALRAJ will be looking to recapture his best form from a cosy three alley, whereas COLT THIRTY ONE should strip fitter after his commendable first up Redcliffe Cup placing last week. 

COPY THAT will have to overcome an inside second row draw for his first official Australian race start, with a peg shuffle up more then likely. His trial last week however was promising, and he looks ensured a soft trip before the first of his main target races next weekend.  

Two heats of the Darrell Alexander Trotting Championships will also be run over the staying trip of 2647m, with big fields set to face the tapes. Plenty of interest from visiting stables has been shown with the likes of HUMBLE LADD, GOLD CHAIN, MORE SHADES OF GOLD and PINK GALAHS having their first look at ‘The Creek’ in an attempt to qualify for the Group 1 final on July 17.  

The Rising Sun favourite EXPENSIVE EGO will also have his final tune up before next weeks blockbuster in the second event on the card from gate seven.  


Fresh off her elite success in last weeks Group 1 Westbred Classic, WONDERFUL TO FLY looks extremely hard to hold out in tonight’s (Friday) Gold Bracelet at Gloucester Park.  

Despite being forced to park outside the leader last week, and with her main danger TAKING THE MIKI finding the perfect position on her trial, the Shane Young trained and driven filly proved her class over the concluding stages to win convincingly.  

The open class pacers will get a week’s reprieve from SHOCKWAVE, with a relatively even field of seven starters duelling over the sprint trip in race four. PATRONUS STAR looks the hardest to beat with the gate advantage however the Oliveri pair of PERFECT MAJOR and MAJOR TIMES loom as legitimate threats in strong form.  


Best of the weekend: R3 N4 @ Albion Park Saturday ‘Will The Wizard’ 

Value of the weekend: R7 N2 @ Albion Park Saturday ‘Kash Us Back’  


Brittany Graham is a regular host on Sky Racing and the Sky Racing Active app, plus In The Gig with Ben Way and Gareth Hall every Tuesday night on Sky Racing 2 from 6pm.

 

The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.