JILLIBY NITRO
EXCITING freshman Jilliby Nitro is in a perfect position to collect his second Group One when he heads to Albion Park on Saturday night.
A brilliant winner of the Bathurst Gold Crown on March 29, the Victorian youngster has been sent north for the rich Australian Pacing Gold Final.
Second in his heat at Tabcorp Park Melton when first-up for a month, the previously unbeaten colt has drawn barrier two in the $350,000 decider.
Jilliby Nitro will slot into the pole for trainer Marg Lee once the emergency is removed from the equation.
“It is a good draw and hopefully we can take full advantage of it,” Lee said. “He has gate speed and will go forward from there.”
Arriving in Queensland this afternoon, Jilliby Nitro is expected to improve from his qualifier with Lee confident she can capture her second APG Final.
Lee prepared Jilliby Jitterbug to secure the fillies’ division in 2005.
Jilliby Jitterbug was driven by Lee’s son, Jason, who will take the reins behind Jilliby Nitro.
“He arrived in Queensland with Jason today and seems to have handled it okay,” Lee said. “He’s had bit more work into him since the heat and that run has also done him good.
“He’s going very well and will be ready for this.”
Lee has also sent Jilliby Bandit to the Sunshine State as a travelling companion, with the five-year-old drawn barrier six in the following race on the card.
Successful in Melton last weekend, Jilliby Bandit is a brother to Jilliby Jitterbug with the pair by Rock N Roll Heaven from 2008 APG champion, Keppel Bay.
“Jilliby Bandit is in good form and went well last week,” Lee said. “He and Nitro are friends at home, plus there was a suitable race for him, so he made the trip as a companion to make Nitro feel relaxed.
“He will also be hard to beat.”
