Last season's top 2YO filly Aussie Made Lombo resumes from a spell this Friday night
Friday night’s Harness Breeders Vic Gold Chalice carries feature status, but trainer Jayne Davies is treating the $25,000 event for three-year-old fillies as a lead-up event for Aussie Made Lombo.
Last season’s Australian 2YO Filly of the Year will launch her three-year-old season in the 2240-metre event at Melton’s Tabcorp Park, which Davies is using as a pipe-opener for the impending Australian Pacing Gold series.
“She’s in the Gold, that’s her main ambition, but this race was there and she’s got to have a lead-up race, so we thought we’d let her have a run around and see how she goes,” Davies said.
“It’s just a stepping stone, so she’s just there to have a run, but if she can win it it will be lovely.”
The Australian Pacing Gold heats are at Tabcorp Park on Friday, January 21 with the $102,000 Group 1 final seven nights later at the same track on the opening night of the Sky Racing Nights Of Glory.
The Bettors Delight filly ran second to Leilani Lombo in the two-year-old version of that series, but counted the Group 1 Bathurst Gold Tiara and Seymour Nursery Pace Final among her 11 wins from 18 starts as a youngster.
A lack of trials over the Christmas-New Year period means Aussie Made Lombo goes into the clash with Group 1-winning Tony Peacock-trained stablemates Lively Moth and Awaywiththefairies without a trial, but she had the equivalent of a trial at Cranbourne last Friday.
With natural maturity, Davies is sure the daughter of Australia’s only million-dollar racemare, Tailamade Lombo, will acquit herself well at her first start since running third in the Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown Final on August 22.
“She’s grown a little bit naturally, she not a giant or anything like that, but she’s probably still got a bit more growing to do,” Davies said. “She’s come back good and we’re very happy with her.”
An advantageous barrier means the filly who will be driven by Chris Alford is likely to start favourite despite the fitness query.
The winner of $315,000 in stakes will start from barrier three with last weekend’s South Australian Oaks winner Awaywiththefairies to roll from the inside alley. Vicbred Super Series heroine Lively Moth has a back-row draw of nine to contend with in the 8.42pm event.
Davies’ other gun two-year-old filly from last season, Breeders Crown winner Passions Promise, is progressing nicely towards her racetrack return and is likely to trial midway through the month.
“She had a little bit longer in the paddock and she’s not too far away either,” Davies said. “She’ll have a trial in a couple of weeks and then she’ll head to the races.”
The Gold Chalice is the feature event on a cracking card that includes the $20,000 SEW-Eurodrive New Year Sprint, featuring Melpark Major, and a competitive $20,000 VHRMA Graham Goffin Memorial for the mares.
