Miss Trickin Lombo will chase a maiden feature tonight
Tonight's Harness Breeders Vic 3YO Fillies Classic at Melton's Tabcorp Park is the last-chance saloon for Miss Trickin Lombo as a three-year-old.
The Jayne Davies-trained daughter of Blissfull Hall has been Victoria's most consistent three-year-old female of the season with seven wins and 13 placings from 26 starts, but has always bumped into at least one better in the big ones.
It took De Lovely to beat her in both her semi and final of the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown, while she also ran third behind that Kiwi champion in the Australian Oaks.
The minor placing was also the position she occupied in the Victoria Oaks and Vicbred Super Series final.
It's a super record and while tonight's $20,000 event doesn't carry the profile of some of those near misses, victory would be satisfying.
"She'll be going to the paddock after this for sure, but it would be nice if she could win it and bow out a winner," Davies said.
"She's been a bridesmaid a bit lately so it would be nice if she could win a good race."
Miss Trickin Lombo doesn't have De Lovely to contend with in the Classic, but she and driver Daryl Douglas do have is the extreme front-row barrier in the 2240-metre mobile.
That hasn't stopped TAB Sportsbet installing her the $1.80 favourite, clear of lone second line occupant Art Shadow ($4), the Chris Alford-trained-and-driven No Tar ($7) and Breeders Crown finalist Revivalist ($8).
"There's no De Lovely this week, but the barrier draw doesn't help," Davies said. "Barrier seven is pretty awkward and there are a few nice fillies, so it's not going to be easy.
"But she can do it tough and she can sprint as well, so Daryl's got a few options and I'll just leave it up to him."
The Harness Breeders Vic 3YO Fillies Classic is the penultimate event on the card, timed to go at 10.14pm.
