Night Of The Stars winning at Tabcorp Park last August
Uncertainty surrounding Trans-Nullarbor transport may hold the key to a prestigious pair of Tabcorp Park features this weekend.
Canny Lara-based conditioner Dean Braun has accepted for Friday night’s $50,000 4YO Championship at Gloucester Park with both Mustang Mach and Night Of The Stars but remains in limbo with flights to Perth on standby only.
As a result, Mustang Mach remains a short priced favourite for Saturday night’s $25,000 Gordon Rothacker Memorial Championship Final while Night of The Stars is also fancied in the St Arnaud Sporting Club Pacing Cup at Tabcorp Park just one night earlier.
But while confusion reigns supreme ahead of a red-letter weekend of racing right throughout the nation, Braun is bullish that any outcome suits for his brace of burgeoning stars.
“We’re still on standby as we speak and to be honest I don’t know if it’s looking good or not,” the gifted conditioner said last night. “If we can get a plane we’ll go, but otherwise we’ll be racing here then trying to go again next week.
“Looking at where they’ve drawn in Perth (Mustang Mach has landed gate 8, Night Of The Stars 11) it might be better money-wise to race at home, but if we can get a flight we’ll definitely make the trip.”
Last weekend’s second-fastest GRMC heat winner, Mustang Mach has drawn barrier two for the inaugural edition of Tabcorp Park’s 1720-metre feature final and looks cherry ripe for pillar to post success.
While Night Of The Stars may face his stiffest opposition from outstanding stablemate Pacific Playgirl in St Arnaud’s $12,000 Cup if staying home this weekend ahead of a Golden Nugget/ McInerney Classic campaign in WA.
“All of mine have got super winning chances at home.” Braun declared. “Mustang Mach looks really hard to beat. Of course you’ve got to respect Glenn Douglas’ horse (Heza Trick), he’s the major danger I think, but my bloke’s got the strength to match his speed now so he’ll be tough to roll.
“The same goes with Friday night. Both horses are going to be in it up to their eyeballs. Night Of The Stars has really come on since his win at Melton and Pacific Playgirl is probably the best credentialed horse in the field.
“It’s tough to split them but they both should be figuring in the finish.”
HRV price assessor Bill Hutchison has Night Of The Stars a $2.60 popular elect for the fourth Choice Hotels Country Cup this season with Pacific Playgirl on the third line of betting at $7, while Mustang Mach is a prohibitive $1.40 favourite in his $25,000 feature on Friday night.
