Talented harness racing pacer Little Jethro is probably one of the best named horses going around in the Michal Smith Pace at Luxbet Park Hobart today.
The pint-sized gelding from the Rod Plunkett stable is usually dwarfed by his opposition but when given the right run in a race his powerful finishing burst more than makes up for lack of height.
Little Jethro scored his last win in Launceston in mid June when he proved too strong in a C2-C4 event over 2200 metres and today he meets slightly weaker company than he has been racing against of late.
He followed his win in Launceston with a close-up fourth in a much stronger grad (C4-C6) and was unlucky not to have finished closer to the winner and he has been competitive from awkward draws at three subsequent starts.
Today he starts from outside the second row in gate 10 but that should be a bonus as he follows out last-start winner Rockbank Dancer that led throughout when able to cross from the wide gate on the front row in Hobart last Sunday night.
"It looks a nice race for him and if we get the luck he needs in the run then he's a good winning chance," Plunkett said.
Little Jethro will be driven by John Walters who is having his best season in over a decade. He is a quality senior driver who has been given more opportunities since he won the Group 3 Easter Cup in Launceston aboard Riverboat Jasper in March.
Walters partnered Rockbank Dancer to victory last Sunday night but he was already booked to drive Little Jethro when Rockbank Dancer's trainer Christian Salter decided to enter his horse for today's assignment.
"My horse is on a five day back-up and I've never done that with him before but he is starting to mature and if he is to progress through the classes he's going to have to get used to this type of racing," Salter said.
"He pulled up great from last Sunday night's race so from gate three we will be looking to find the front and if that happens I reckon he's the one to beat even though he's stepping up quite a bit in class."
The Juanita McKenzie-trained Zumba Bromac should be improved by her first-up effort in Hobart last Sunday night to finish fifth to Rockbank Dancer. The four-year-old was held up when trying to improve but finished off well in the home straight.
Other winning chances in the race are Alpinion, Future Promises and Origin Billy.
The first race is scheduled to start at 2.08 pm (AEST) with the last of eight at 6.02 and all races will be broadcast on Sky 1.
Peter Staples