Lawrence chases Nugget title

If there was ever time to use the well-worn racing phrase that anything could win this, it’s before Saturday’s Super Nugget Final at Ascot Park.

A strong field of progressive pacers will start in the $20,000 feature on the Northern Southland Cup day undercard.

So deep is the form that it not only serves as an attraction for punters, but it endorses the graduation-style nugget series in its first season of being run by the Southern Harness organisation.

Invercargill trainer Alister Black has qualified leading southern three-year-old Lawrence for the race and has fellow sophomore pacer Kilowatt Kidd as a handy back-up.

Lawrence comes into the event after an unlucky third behind rival Zealand Star at Winton last month after being held up on the final bend.

Since then he has pleased Black with a quiet workout to prime him for Saturday’s feature.

"The Winton race didn’t pan out to what we had planned; he had to run a 58 half in the middle, but he didn’t disgrace himself by any stretch,’’ Black said.

That workout, where race rival Franco Santino ran past Lawrence could be an important form reference for Saturday’s event, but Black is quick to point out there are no prizes for winning there. Lawrence stamped his class and put himself in contention for today’s race with a huge performance to win at Wyndham two starts ago. He won by coming from behind, which has Black in two minds whether the horse is better with a sit or up on the speed.

Franco Santino and Shebang must overcome drawing on the outside of the front line and The Bus has only one horse outside him on the second row.

Zealand Star finished hard on the back of Franco Santino in the Winton workout he and Lawrence contested and is a major winner after the barrier draw having secured barrier one.