Unbeaten Major Bronski has a big task to keep his record in tact with the outside of the second row Photo by Corey Pearce
A week before the $300,000 final for two-year-old colts and geldings, two heats of the Australian Pacing Gold will be held on an 11 race program at Albion Park this Saturday.
As well as those 1660 metre events, there is also a 2138 metre qualifying heat of the QBred Triad, with the $85,000 final to be held at Albion Park also on May 9.
In the first Gold heat (race four), two Victorians and three New South Wales pacers are carded in the 10 horse event.
The Victorians are Jorg Is Best (two, Gavin Lang for Jeremy Quinlan) and Ole Master Lombo (nine, Chris Alford for Ahmed Taiba), while the Sydney contestants are Lombo Astreos (one, Blake Fitzpatrick for Paul Fitzpatrick), Master Joy (three, trainer Sue Hunter) and Cuttheattitude (six, Jimmy Brown for Felicity Gallagher).
The local runner, Major Bronski, unbeaten in three starts, has come up with the outside of the second tier, with Grant Dixon to drive for 'Bunger' Johnson.
Another unbeaten local, For A Reason (five) has drawn the centre of the track for trainer Luke McCarthy, whose father, John, relies on El Vogue (four), who is yet to be placed in three racetrack appearances.
There are four last start winners in the first heat, while three winners at their latest outing are engaged in the second heat.
In the second heat, the Bathurst Gold Crown winner Chariot King, a winner at his past three starts, has drawn the coveted pole barrier.
Trained by Sydney based media man John Tapp, Chariot King will be handled by regular race pilot Greg Bennett.
His clash with 'boom' Victorian trained Renaissance Man (two, Kate Gath for Andrew Gath) will be a highlight of the $20,000 sprint.
There is a strong Victorian representation here with Ultimate Escape (three, Rob Martin for Bill Galea), Kiwi Joe (four, Chris Alford for Ahmed Taiba), Jar Zinyo (five, Gavin Lang for Jeremy Quinlan) and Bulldozer (six, John Nicholson).
There is another NSW runner, the recent winner, Art Of War (seven, trainer Paul Fitzpatrick), who will run from the top of the track.
In the Triad qualifying, Make No Promises, a winner at his past two outings, has drawn the centre of the track at gate four, with Grant Dixon to drive for his father, Queensland's leading trainer, Bill Dixon.
Other recent winners here are Iconic Comfort (0ne, Jay Bellamy), Hez Hellbound (three, Tim Gillespie for John Davis), Frostfire (five, Lola Weidemann for Vic Frost), Carnival Fun (six, Shane Graham for Wayne Graham), Our Sir Silvertail (nine, Leigh Wanless) and Super Falcon (10, Gary Bond).
Two North American-bred stablemates are among the six horse fast class field, race nine, the Coca Cola Pace (1660 metres).
Trainer Simon Burrows starts Top Shelf Hanover (three) and South Park Hanover (six).
Very Cool, who was made an emergency for the Form 700 Len Smith Mile at Menangle last Sunday, chases a hat trick from gate two with stable reinsman Scott Kunde at the helm for former Tasmanian trainer Ken Rattray.
Another 'on' a hat trick is much improved former NSW mare Mad Mel (five, Mat Neilson for Daren Garrard).
Racing starts at 5.20pm and concludes at 10.07pm.
