It’s harness racing frenzy on Saturday night headlined by $250,000 Rising Sun at Albion Park.
We preview the best bets from not only Albion Park but for finals programs at Cranbourne and Menangle.
Cranbourne Race 6
#9 Triple Eight
Going with the naught on the roulette wheel in this race and that Triple Eight.
He comes into this race off the back of a 97-day spell which will have legs nice and fresh for this 2080-metre assignment at Cranbourne.
Greg Sugars should be able to get him into a beautiful trailing spot behind one of Always Fast or Torrid Saint.
If that occurs, he has the finishing power to be the strongest horse late in the race and he is a proven winner when resuming from a spell.
Suggested Bet: Triple Eight win at $4.60
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 8, 9
Albion Park Race 4
#8 Jeradas Delight
It was an ugly watch for those on Jeradas Delight last start after the six-year-old mare was strung up in between horses with no where to go.
She is low-flying at the moment was desperate to poke her nose through any gap that may have appeared which is the sign of a good pacer.
Her win two starts ago when darting up the inside of the Albion Park straight showed what a lovely turn of acceleration she possesses.
She draws wide on the front row but that is much than where she ended up last start.
With the favourite owning good early speed, expect the field to string out a bit early in the race and that should allow our selection to find some cover one off the fence.
She will be flying home late in the race at big odds.
Suggested Bet: Jeradas Delight each-way at $19 the win and $3.60 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 8
Albion Park Race 6
#5 Spankem
Having a dip at Spankem to turn the tables on arguably the best pacer in the country and the favourite for this race King of Swing.
It might be fraught with a bit of danger taking on this $1.30 odds-on pop but there is a valid case to be made.
Spankem only finished eight metres from King of Swing when they last went head to head over 2680 metres on June 19.
Since then, Spankem has had a run in the Listed Wondais Mate Pace over 1660 metres to keep the his fitness up to the mark, whereas King of Swing has had 21 days away from the circuit.
That fitness advantage might just come prove the difference in this race.
Suggested Bet: Spankem each-way at $9 the win and $1.75 the place.
Albion Park race 7
#1 Krug
Krug is the next rising star of harness racing.
The New Zealand-bred three-year-old smashed up a talented field in the Redcliffe Derby and now has the chance to attain glory with the inaugural running of $250,000 The Rising Sun.
Trainer Cran Dalgety confirmed his horse will utilise gate one to full effect by darting to the front and using this talented trotter’s early gate speed.
Even if he does not hold the lead and hands up to Kowalski Analysis, he has proven he can take the sit and finish off powerfully should the early tempo get too hot.
He will have a clear map advantage of champion four-year-old Expensive Ego who has drawn gate nine.
Suggested Bet: Krug win at $3
Menangle Race 8
#6 Lettuce Trot
Lettuce Trot could have not debuted in finer style when defeating Tough Love just under a month ago.
Tough Love had almost everything in his favour; fitness, race experience and an easy barrier.
But given Lettuce Trot was an unknown commodity on the race track we ended up being graced with a brilliant 1.2-metre victory over 2300 metres.
He will only take benefit from that run and there is no reason why he cannot repeat his antics in this event.
Cameron Hart can either lead or follow Tough Love across and sit at his girth then pull away late in the race as he did on debut.
Suggested Bet: Lettuce Trot win at $2.25
