Spidergirl is unbeaten in four Tabcorp Park Melton starts.
David Butt and Habibti may appear to have a stranglehold on the Glenferrie Farm Victoria Trotters Oaks – but there is another David in the field with the chance of an upset.
That man, David Aiken, will train a trio of fillies in the race, headlined by reigning Victorian juvenile trotting Filly of the Year, Spidergirl.
“She (Spidergirl) had a tough run in the Oaks and had a better trip in the Derby. When Habibti got to the front it was all but over but she ran home well,” Aiken said.
“I wouldn’t be ruling out Spidergirl – the other filly might be one out of the box but my girl is pretty good too.
“We are really happy with where she is at and she is going really well at the moment it’s just unfortunate that we are probably running into a horse that’s freakish.”
If the emergency is scratched, Aiken’s daughter of Yankee Spider will start from the pole and as advantageous as that can be, it could also bring about her undoing.
Aiken explained she hasn’t been brilliantly away on a consistent basis but there is plenty of incentive to make it count this week, with her main rival drawn wide on the front line.
“We would hope to hold the top until Habibti gets there. Chris (Alford, driver) just nursed her out in Sydney and she didn’t show a lot of speed but we will probably have to get out a bit quicker this week,” he said.
“I know Habibti got beat last week but I don’t think she lost any admirers; the track was bad, they went quick time and she did all the work.”
The Avenel trainer’s other runners in the race, Dizzyinterest and Spidergirl, both travelled to New South Wales but neither could find their way into the fight.
“They are both nice three-year-old trotting fillies but they are probably the next rung down,” Aiken said.
“I think Vics Cheval will be better next time in being a big, overgrown filly. Dizzyinterest has a lot to learn but when she sorts herself out she will be okay.
“It’s tough to be competitive with the other fillies when you can do things wrong and they are doing everything right.
“If both of my other two trotted the whole way I would probably lean to Dizzyinterest beating the other one home.”
