Tricky race for Vincent: Rasmussen

DO not read too much into driver Natalie Rasmussen turning her back on Heaven Rocks for the $50,000 Franklin Cup at Alexandra Park tonight.

The cotrainer says the enigmatic star pacer is still the one to beat, even though she has jumped off him to drive Vincent.

Rasmussen and Mark Purdon train both Vincent and Heaven Rocks but a driver reshuffle was forced after Purdon was suspended for 26 days on Interdominion night in Perth last Friday.

‘‘It is a tricky situation with Mark out because there is a lot of pressure driving a horse like Vincent fresh up, and I don’t think it is fair to put that pressure on somebody else,’’ she explains.

‘‘He is ready to race and there to win but I think he is a false favourite and don’t want him driven like a $2 chance because he probably isn’t ready for that.

‘‘Of course he can win because he is a very good horse, but I think Heaven Rocks is our better chance because he was so good last Friday and should be even fitter.’’

‘‘It is just a very tricky race for Vincent fresh up.’’

Heaven Rocks will be partnered by Tim Williams, who admits he has not had great success on the pacer before but he has been doing all the work with him in the north over the last two weeks.

Add in Jack’s Legend back on his home track, the improving A G’s White Socks and Titan Banner, now back with PurdonRasmussen, and tonight’s race will be a huge pointer to what to expect in the Auckland Cup on December 31.

Though Titan Banner has switched to the All Stars camp, he will reunite with driver Dexter Dunn. — NZME