Friday night's event will be Bonavista Bay's first run since his effortless Sires Classic win (above)
Friday night’s BIG6 Jackpot 3YO Vicbred Pace at Melton’s Tabcorp Park could determine whether harness fans gets the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown showdown they are craving.
A clash between New South Wales champ Captain Joy and Victorian gun Bonavista Bay shapes as the banner match up of this year’s series, but the latter must impress trainer Emma Stewart on Friday night to book his ticket.
Smythes Creek-based Stewart conceded it has been a race against time to get Bonavista Bay ready for Breeders Crown heats, set down for Bendigo next Thursday, and this weekend’s run will tell whether they’ve won that race.
“We’ve been a bit rushed for the Breeders Crown, but he’s come up pretty quickly and we think that he’s done enough (to be ready),” Stewart said.
“But it all really depends on how he comes through Friday night.”
The 2240-metre event will be Bonavista Bay’s first start since stretching his winning sequence to eight in the Group 3 Victoria Sires Classic at Moonee Valley on December 20.
Shortly after that dominant display he suffered a hock injury that had him paddock-bound for almost four months.
In the meantime, Captain Joy has been continuing on his merry way and yesterday maintained his unbeaten record as a three-year-old with an 11th-straight win for the season in a Breeders Crown heat at Menangle.
Bonavista Bay tuned up for his return with a slick trial win at Maryborough on Saturday, covering the last 800m in 57.8 seconds on his way to a 20-metre win, which has him ready to meet a quality field of rivals.
He will roll from outside the front row (barrier seven) with Chris Alford in the sulky in the $15,001 race (at 7.42pm) that also features Tasmanian Derby winner Garnet River (six) and Vicbred Super Series hero Villagem (eight).
“There wasn’t much in the trial, but he won it well and ran nice time,” Stewart said.
“Being first up it will be up to Chris what he does, but he’s driven him a few times before and he knows he’s pretty versatile.”
