Look ahead to this weekend's harness racing action in our weekly preview, thanks to Darren Clayton.
Last week’s washout of the Saturday night metropolitan fixture has necessitated a restructure to this weekend’s schedule, with five Sunshine Stars Sales races transferred across Friday and Saturday night.
The two $25,000 trotting features will be conducted on Friday night at Albion Park, while the three pacing races will be held Saturday night.
Due to return last weekend, Tims A Trooper will make his return this week in a nine-horse divided open race that will also mark the first appearance of Hot And Treacherous for the John Livingstone stable.
FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURES
A pair of $25,000 trotting features late in the card on Friday night will be the first of the Sunshine Stars Sales Classics.
Monterey Lass looks the one to beat in the fillies division, while the colts and geldings’ division is wide open, with all four contesting the field yet to break maiden ranks.
With victories in the Triad and Springboard, the Shane Graham-trained and reined Monterey Lass has prepared with an impressive trial hit-out.
Yet to miss the money in all six career starts, the half-sister to Agent Black will almost certainly ensure her name is engraved on the Juvenile Trotter of the Year trophy with a victory in a third feature.
Down South Daisy for Tayla Gillespie is the obvious threat, the filly an impressive winner on debut back in September.
Tim Gillespie will be hoping Buster Dan can claim a maiden breaking win in the colts and geldings’ division, with racing manners likely to be a key factor in crossing the line in first position.
SMOKIN TO LIGHT IT UP
Following the final Inter Dominion rankings that were released on Wednesday, the Chantal Turpin-trained Always Smokin sits in a precarious position should connections wish to target the series.
Ranked 39, the four-year-old will be hopeful that some pacers ahead on the rankings will opt to bypass the series, which starts next Friday at Newcastle.
Starting from barrier five this week, he is one of three Turpin-trained runners in the field, with Pete McMullen opting to take the reins.
Starting from barrier five, the gelding can look to press forward and if he can find the front, he will prove a tough opponent to get past.
Hot And Treacherous looks to be one of his main threats having drawn to the inside.
The six-year-old will be first-up for the new stable and having his first race start since trailing the field home in the Mr Feelgood during the Queensland Constellations.
With two trials to prepare for his return, the gelding will be partnered by Brent Livingstone.
Jimartee, who was locked away on the inside in the Queensland Cup at his latest start, has again drawn awkwardly and will have to overcome gate seven.
With an Inter Dominion spot locked away for the seven-year-old, the outside gate will make it tough to land some winning form heading into the series.
While those three front line runners should provide some sparks, the return of Tims A Trooper is the intriguing aspect to the race.
Tims A Trooper has not raced since February, when finishing down the line behind Triple Eight in the Pure Steel at Melton, and will start from two out on the second line.
CAN ISOBEL BE THE HOMECOMING QUEEN?
A training accident suffered by Amanda Turnbull earlier this week has opened the door for Isobel Ross to take the reins on the early favourite, Stay Foolish, in the Sunshine Stars Classic for colts and geldings.
Ross has been an integral part of the Turnbull stable and has lived in Bathurst since departing her home state of Queensland over five years ago.
With several feature race victories for Turnbull in recent years, the chance to claim the biggest win of her career at 'The Creek' now presents in a bittersweet twist.
Stay Foolish will appreciate moving to the front line after starting from outside the second row in the preview where he was attacking the line strongly in the closing stages.
Ross already has a perfect association with the gelding, having driven him twice, winning on both occasions.
Dangers in the race will be the preview winner, Toro Loco, for Ben Battle and Nathan Dawson.
The son of Sportswriter will start from the same barrier as when winning the preview on November 8.
My Ultimate Felix draws well in gate one and should take further improvement from his third in the preview, while Happy As Can Be loomed as a big threat, however, has drawn poorly in gate seven.
DONEGAL v THE DUKE
The sixth race on Saturday looks a two-horse battle between Donegal Luther and Duke Of Scotland.
Interestingly, Donegal Luther is the winner of just four career races and has secured a position in the upcoming Inter Dominion series, while Duke Of Scotland is the winner of five career races.
Duke Of Scotland has yet to be seen in action when leading here in Queensland, while Donegal Luther has been finishing off strongly in his races including an eye-catcher in the Queensland Cup.
With the advantage of barrier one, we might just see what 'the Duke' can produce from the front with 'Leader Pete' doing what he does best.
