Bellas Delight was fourth to Aussie Made Lombo (above) in her Breeders Crown semi
As a broadcaster, form analyst and scribe, Rob Auber is a figure as tied to the image of Victorian harness racing as any in the sport.
But it is in is his other guise, as owner and breeder, that his greatest passion for the industry lies, meaning it comes as little shock to hear the euphoria in his voice approaching Super Sunday and his first crack at racing immortality.
Bellas Delight will line up for Auber and his team of owners as a maiden with only five career starts in the $308,000 Group 1 two-year-old fillies final of the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown.
But following a slashing performance when fourth behind Aussie Made Lombo last Friday night, when she ran the fastest last half and quarter of all 22 semi-finalists in her division, she has her stalwart owner and breeder daring to dream.
"We're very excited about racing on Sunday," Auber said. "We've been thrilled with her performances to date and while it's a very tough race we think she's one of the absolute chances."
While conceding that her inexperience might be her biggest obstacle, Auber also senses that with a genuine tempo his filly can figure in the finish despite TAB Sportsbet rating her a $71 chance in the market headed by Lively Moth ($1.90).
And if she does salute the judge it might place her owner - who has been commissioned to conduct all post-race interviews on the $1.56 million card - in a tricky position.
"I think I might have to ask Craig Rail or Michael Polster to do it (the interview) if she won," Auber laughed.
"Look, it's pretty exciting just to be in that situation. I bred Bellas Delight and I've had three generations of that family, so to get here with her is amazing.
"It's the biggest meeting from a two, three and four-year-old perspective in Australia and when you've been paying up for three years and you're through to the final, it's a massive thrill."
With just three nervous nights to wait until the richest showcase of age-restricted in Australasia and his shot at one of the most treasured prizes in the sport, Auber is trying to remain philosophical.
But for a man as enamoured with the industry, the Crown and horses in general as he is, the anticipation is peaking fast.
"Everybody knows how passionate I am about my horses," he said. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about winning a Group 1, it's something I've dreamed of forever and for me it would be the pinnacle of my life."
The 2240-metre Crown final for the baby girls is the seventh race on a cracker 10-race program and will be run at 3.45pm.
