Chris Lang is hopeful that Miss Warbucks has what it takes on Friday night
As mentor to dual Inter Dominion king Sundons Gift and back-to-back Breeders Crown hero Let Me Thru, champion Nagambie horseman Chris Lang knows a thing or two about elite level squaregaiting success.
Despite his exalted reputation as the doyen of Australian trotting however, one feature Lang cannot count among his many triumphs is the $20,000 Lightfoot Laurels for open class mares.
But with three of the eight runners in the form of Aldebaran Maori, Happy Maori and Miss Warbucks set to take their place in Tabcorp Park’s 20th renewal of the Group 3 race and a big opinion of the latter horse in particular, it’s an aberration he will be looking to rectify this Friday night.
“This is one of the few (Australian trotting features) I haven’t won, so hopefully we can remedy that this weekend,” the affable conditioner laughed.
“I think Miss Warbucks is probably the one most likely. She galloped last time but I think she hit her knee, which she normally doesn’t do. Her form prior to that was outstanding and the small field suits, so I’m hopeful she can put her best foot forward this weekend.
“Aldebaran Maori is also some sort of chance if she gets away well but she might be just a little bit short on experience at this level right now.”
Having shared the podium with Friday’s only handicapped runners in Sassy Pinevale and Arizona Blue in both the Breed For Speed Gold Series Final and La Coocaracha on Coolamon Day (both mobile starts), punters and pundits could be excused for thinking Miss Warbucks’ 30 metre advantage this weekend should be enough to see her home.
But with just eight horses to go around and both of the burdened horses as reliable as any from the tapes, Lang is adamant it will be Miss Warbucks’ fabled finishing burst, not a handicap advantage that may pave the way for her richest race win in this weekend’s 2760-metre stand start feature.
“The long journey and the small field sort of negates any big edge we’ll get at the start I reckon,” Lang conceded.
“If the two big guns at the back get away safely they’ll cruise up and be on our back in no time and from there everyone is really back to square one.
“But as you’ve seen, Miss Warbucks is not far off those two for talent and if she can come off the speed with one big run – which I really think is her forte – they’ll know she’s in the race, that’s for sure.”
TAB Sportsbet has marked Miss Warbucks – to be partnered by brilliant Bolinda horseman Chris Alford – at $3.20 with Aldebaran Maori (Lang Snr) at $9 and Happy Maori (Greg Sugars) $17 even.
Last start Matchmaker Mile winner Sassy Pinevale is the early Lightfoot Laurels favourite at $2 while superstar Kemps Creek five-year-old Arizona Blue has been kept safe at $3.20 in markets released on Thursday morning.