Queensland mare Pelosi will be trying her luck in the Group 3 at Tabcorp Park Menangle tonight (Saturday). Photo by Club Menangle
FEATURE races like the Chariots Of Fire and the Miracle Mile are at the top of the ‘wish list’ for most Sydney harness trainers at the moment.
With both big-money features just weeks away, meeting – and beating – the powerful Craig Cross stable is what everyone is aiming for.
Leading trainer Paul Fitzpatrick is no different and begins his quest to win the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire for four-year-olds at Tabcorp Park Menangle tonight.
Promising pacer Zeuss Bromac resumes from a spell and despite being first-up for almost two months, has been installed a $1.75 early favourite to win Race 1 with Paul’s son Gavin in the bike.
“The Chariots is all we are about with him this time in,” said Paul Fitzpatrick.
“He did well during his time off and has come up quite nicely.
“After tonight he has enough time to get another couple of runs under his belt before we go in one of the Chariots qualifiers next month.”
Qualifiers for the February 20 Group One – the Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios Sprints – will be run on successive Saturdays, February 6 and 13.
A recent trial winner in Penrith, Zeuss Bromac has drawn barrier eight over a mile but slots into seven when the emergency comes out.
“It’s not the best draw over the short trip, but he’ll run a good race,” Fitzpatrick said.
“He did well in his trial and is pretty forward, but whatever he does on the weekend he will improve on.”
Cross and McCarthy are again expected to dominate tonight’s meeting with the Group 3 $30,600 Ladyship Pace the highlight of the seven-race program.
Even the presence of two-time Breeders Challenge champion Pelosi, down from Queensland, is not enough to stop the Cross/McCarthy juggernaut, which will have $1.40 favourite Bettor Enforce in the race as well as two others in the six-horse field.
Pelosi has a marvellous record at Menangle and with regular reinsman John Cremin unable to make the trip, will again re-new acquaintances with local driver Jimmy Douglass.
Last time in Sydney Pelosi won the $75,000 three-year-old fillies Breeders Challenge on protest after going under narrowly to Keep Rockin, ironically driven by McCarthy.
Trained by Anna Woodmansey, Pelosi has won 12 of her 25 starts and is drawn inside of Bettor Enforce tonight in what should again be an enthralling struggle – and a great battle of tactics between the two ‘gun’ reinsmen.
- MICHAEL COURT
