Three heats of the 2018 Golden Nursery Stakes (1800m) for two-year-olds highlight racing at Globe Derby Park on Saturday night.
The Sam and Pauline Spirou Golden Nursery heat one sees the Tyson Linke-trained Mackalan try to maintain his unbeaten record.
In both wins, the two-year-old has been able to trail the leader and use the sprint lane but on Saturday he has to come from gate five, so it will be interesting to see what tactics driver Danielle Hill adopts.
Mackalan has not shown brilliant gate speed in either run, and instead has been driven conservatively.
The Justin Brewin-trained Above Average has brilliant gate speed and looks the likely leader from gate three, but connections would prefer to take a sit and allow him to sprint home like he did when second to Mackalan in the Sapling Stakes.
An interesting runner is the Anthony Robinson-trained and driven Livinontheedge.
He was backed from $14 into $4.70 last week on race debut and settled at the tail of the field but met early interference and was a distant last with a lap to go eventually finishing seventh, beaten just under 30 metres by Culture King.
Livinontheedge had trialled nicely and from gate four on Saturday should be a lot more competitive.
Robinson also has a good drive on Pinkie Promise in the HRSA / SA BOTRA Golden Nursery heat two.
Trained by Andrew Gilbert, Pinkie Promise was a little disappointing in finishing sixth to Mackalan in the Sapling Stakes but from gate three on Saturday expect him to be a better winning chance.
The interesting runner in this heat is the Tyson Linke-owned and trained Marcelo which has drawn gate one.
Marcelo, with Linke in the sulky, ran a close second against older horses in a Port Pirie 1609m trial on March 20 sprinting home a last half in 58.8 seconds. Top driver Danielle Hill takes the reins on Saturday, and from gate one, expect him to be prominent.
Consistent Culture King, which broke through last week for trainer-driver Paul Cavallaro, is sure to run well again despite coming from gate five.
The Alabar Golden Nursery heat three gives Bubbles And Cheese a chance to score his first win.
Last week, Bubbles And Cheese, having his first start for trainer Bronte Giorgio, looked a possible winner when taking a narrow lead over Above Average, but the pair locked wheels for a short time allowing Culture King to go past and win.
From gate one on Saturday,with Michael Smith in the sulky, the two-year-old has the speed to push through and lead and will take some running down.
See how form expert Ben Harding sums up the Golden Nursery heats at trotsguide.com.au with his comments and selections for the seven-race Globe Derby Park meeting.
