Deni Roberts and Minstrel. Photo by Pacepix
THERE is a lot in the hands of young gun WA driver Deni Roberts when she tackles her first Inter Dominion pacing final at Menangle tonight (Saturday).
Not only does she drive one-time favourite and only finalist from her home state, Minstrel, but Roberts’ tactics will shape how this latest chapter of harness racing’s most iconic race will be run.
Minstrel isn’t just one of, if not the best pacer in the race, but he’s a seasoned warrior who has proven he can “rough it” in his races and still win or be right there at the finish, which is so rare in today’s racing.
Roberts, 29, scored the biggest win of her career when Minstrel did just that – sat outside the leader and beat a strong field in the Group 1 WA Pacing Cup last month. It’s the win that cemented his trip to Sydney.
Now, from a less-than-ideal back row draw (gate 11), Roberts will almost certainly have to make an early move and do all the work again to try and beat likely leader and favourite, Don Hugo, along with late swoopers like Captains Knock, Dangerous, Max Delight and Curly James.
It’s as tough an Inter Dominion initiation as it gets, but Roberts’ is ready. She’s the form of driver of Australia with three Group 1 wins last month and now she’s had some practice around Menangle, which is by far the biggest harness track in the land and almost twice the size of her Gloucester Park “home” track.
“He’s got all the attributes to win a race like this,” Roberts said. “He’s more versatile and experienced than most of his rivals, many of them are a bit one-dimensional.
“Even though he got beaten the other night, both he and I took a lot from it.
“He got a bit lost in the home straight and you can’t blame him, it’s about 200m longer than he’s used back home (Gloucester Park). He got a bit confused.”
Roberts was thrilled with how well the often ungainly Minstrel loved the spacious 1400m Menangle circuit.
“This is the best we’ve ever had him and that’s the best he’s paced in a race. It gives me options. At home we’ve got to drive him tough because he doesn’t handle the tight bends, but I feel like I can drive according to how the race is run here.
“If they burn early, I can wait, but if not, I can make a move and get him into it.
“We couldn’t be happier with him, the way he felt last Saturday and Skye (Bond, co-trainer) said he’s come through it really well.”
Minstrel was a favourite going into the series, but his back row draw (gate 11) has seen him drift to $6. TAB Eureka winner, Don Hugo, has been crunched from $2.60 into $2.15 since drawing ideally in gate three.
Roberts admits she’s feeling some pressure, but adds the experience she’s had since becoming stable driver for top WA trainers Greg and Skye Bond almost two years ago has prepared her.
“It’s certainly taught me how to handle pressure. This is a bit different because I’m away from home and out of my comfort zone, but I’m glad I had those drives (at Menangle) last Saturday and once I get out on the track, it’ll be just another race,” she said.
