Great duel expected in Sprint

New South Wales will have the odds well stacked in their favour in the $27,000 Paleface Adios Sprint (1760m) at Harold Park this Friday night. Undoubtedly, some of the top four-year-olds Australasia has to offer will contest the Sprint, which will also be a stepping stone to a possible start in the Chariots of Fire in early March, which is regarded as the premier four-year-old event on the harness racing calendar. Friday night?s feature event will also bring a much-anticipated re-match of NSW Derby winner, Top Speed (Greg Bennett), and the Derby runner up, Dinki Di (Steve Turnbull). The two pacers fought it out right to the line in the NSW Derby last season, with Top Speed walking away the victor in a Harold Park record time. Since the NSW Derby, both of the two pacers have maintained their winning form, with Top Speed picking up two wins and two placings in Victoria, while Dinki Di has pulled out four wins and four placings this season. However, the barrier draw has fallen in Dinki Di?s favour ? the Bathurst pacer will start nicely in barrier-two off the front line, with Top Speed starting wide in barrier-six. But, with the field being made up with some classy competitors, any horse can succeed. The top Victorian mare Nolarama (John Caldow) has drawn nicely in pole position, and, given her form this season which reads eight wins and two placings from ten starts is an indication that she isn?t making the trip to Sydney to finish anywhere other than first. From barrier-one, Nolarama will have the option to lead from the word go, and has the strength to lead throughout and win comfortably. Among the main chances in the feature event are Pick Handles (Chris Alford), Playing With Fire (Brian Hancock) and Rowley Ramsey (Doug Lee). This is how they will line up in the 2003 classic: 1760m Mobile Start 1. NOLARAMA John Caldow FT 2. DINKI DI Steve Turnbull FT 3. PICK HANDLES Chris Alford FT 4. PLAYING WITH FIRE NZ Brian Hancock FT 5. POPPY SIM NZ James Ponsonby (C) FT 6. TOP SPEED NZ Greg Bennett FT 7. MOUNT AUBURN Peter Morris FT -------------------Second Row---------------------- 8. ROWLEY RAMSEY Doug Lee FT 9. MASTER ECHELON Darren Hancock FT 10. DUEL PRINCE Gavin Fitzpatrick (C) FT 11. JAKE PASTIME (1 EM) Blake Fitzpatrick (C) FT The big nine-event program will get underway at 7pm. For further information, contact the NSW Harness Racing Club by phoning (02) 9660 3688 or visit them online at www.haroldpark.com.au