For A Reason easily won his first round APG heat, but tasted his first defeat in the 2nd round heat, going down by a half head. He is out to make ammends in the $300,000 final. Photo by Corey Pearce
As far as highlights are concerned, it's a case of where to look next at Albion Park this Saturday
Juveniles take centre stage - and how - with five races carrying total stakes of an incredible $620,000.
Heading the charge prizemoney-wise at $300,000 is the Australian Pacing Gold 2YO Colts & Geldings Final over the mobile 1660 metres.
Visiting pacers who were heat winners are expected to hog the market, with Bathurst Gold Crown winner Chariot King (Glenn McElhinney for John Tapp) drawing five and the unbeaten Jorg Is Best (Gavin Lang for Jeremy Quinlan) coming up with 10, gate three on the second tier.
Quinlan is dually represented, as he has the pole-marker, Jar Zinyo, who finished a distant third to Chariot King in the heat last Saturday over the same distance.
'Boom' Victorian youngster Renaissance Man (Kate Gath for Andrew Gath), who split Chariot King and Jar Zinyo, after making all the tempo, has the outside of the back row.
High class local For A Reason (Luke McCarthy), who tasted defeat for the first time in his career when second to Jorg Is Best last Saturday, has come up with the outside of the front, gate seven in race five.
Four QBred Triad finals will be held, all over the middle distance 2138 metre mobile.
The three-year-olds (C & G race three) and (fillies race six) will race for $85,000, while $75,000 purses behold the 4YOs (Entires & Geldings race four) and (mares race seven).
In the 3YO colts and geldings final, Queensland's leading trainer, Bill Dixon, has three of the 12 starters – last start winner Elzar (three), Sergeant Jujon (six) and Make No Promises (seven).
Natalie Rasmussen, Dixon's daughter-in-law, will partner Make No Promises, while the Sunshine State's leading reinsman and trainer's son, Grant Dixon, will have his choice of the other pair.
Fast beginner Super Falcon, a 1:57 member of the 'Hundred Grand Club,' has come up with gate two for trainer/driver Gary Bond, as he chases a back-to-back Triad win.
Our Sir Silvertail (Leigh Wanless, eight), who finished second to Super Falcon last year, hopes to go one better as a long shot this time around.
In the 3YO fillies final, Bill Dixon is dually represented with Making Magic (three, Natalie Rasmussen) and Our Sweet Victree (six, Grant Dixon), who is hot on the trail of four successive wins.
Another seeking to make it four on the trot is 1:57.7 performer Forever After, who has drawn the pole with Luke McCarthy to drive for his father, John McCarthy.
Other last start winners are Jenzajet (two, Dean Belford), Save Me Christian (five, Mark Dux) and Starglo Miss (nine, Dayl March).
Only two of last year's finalists will take part this year - last start Albion Park winner Lifes A Dance (eight), who ran fifth last year, and last year's seventh placed Wildlife Princess (11).
In the 4YO Entires & Geldings Final, Gary Bond had two runners - the brilliant beginner Heza Wonder (one) and Smarty Jones (nine).
His entry list pales into insignificance, however, against that of Bill Dixon with Sir Creasy (six), Ark Alencon (eight), Tipsy Tollgater (11) and Navajo Candy (12).
Tipsy Tollgater and Navajo Candy are the only last start winners in the 12 horse field.
Of the six finalists who qualified last year, Sir Creasy, the runner up in the 2008 edition, did best, while his stablemate, Tipsy Tollgater, was just behind the placings in fourth berth.
The other finalists from last year going around again are Smarty Jones (fifth), Gotta Be Bing (seventh), Loosen The Load (eighth) and Cheers Robbie (ninth).
Five of last year's finalists have made it through again this year in the 4YO Mares Final, which is missing the 2008 3YO winner, Misscilla.
Last year's runner up, the front running Too Smart For You (three, Bethany Smart) has drawn to lead, while last year's third placegetter, Ark De Ville (six) joins pole-marker Play The Line as the Bill Dixon stable runners.
The first of 11 races is set for 5.17pm, with the last race scheduled to go at 10.37pm.
