Draw means Milly will have her work cut out
PRELUDES for two of the state’s biggest two-year-old harness races are features of the small seven-race card in Hobart tonight.
A field of 10 — eight of them winners so far this season — will contest the Evicus Stakes Prelude.
The Paul Hill-trained Enterprising Milly is the best performed with two wins from her three starts. Her latest victory came in the Sweepstakes final over 1609m in Hobart three weeks ago.
Enterprising Milly had her colours lowered by Spoilt Sport in a Sweepstakes Prelude but turned the tables on that filly in the final courtesy of a more favourable draw.
Tonight Spoilt Sport has drawn gate five while Enterprising Milly will have to contend with gate 10 on the outside of the second row.
Spoilt Sport’s stablemate Still Hungover has drawn alongside her in gate four and should she find the front it could make for an interesting first 800m.
Still Hungover scored an impressive win last start to defeat Our Wonder Woman, who went on to win a 2YO event over 1930m in Devonport last Friday night.
The Todd Rattray-trained Juniper and Betterbsweet from the Dylan Ford stable, a winner at her only start, loom as genuine each-way chances along with Karalta Felesha, who won three starts back in Launceston.
Luck in running will play a major role in the outcome of this race but it should give a good guide to which filly might start favourite in the final in a fortnight.
The Dandy Patch Prelude for colts and geldings looks a one-act affair with Resurgent Storm likely to keep his unbeaten record intact.
Resurgent Storm has won his only two starts and both were impressive efforts, the latest in the colts and geldings Sweepstakes final on May 18.
Trainer Roger Whitmore has since taken the colt to the trials in Hobart where he toyed with rivals including Betterthan fetta and Burning up thefloor, who make their de but sin the prelude.
Top trainer Todd Rattray will produce his first starter Jocund, who has been placed in three trials at Carrick, while Alistair Woods will hitch up Itzuptouharry, who has placed in two of his three starts.