Improving three-year-old Bettorhavtime looks to have a good winning chance in Sunday’s Allwood Stud Pace (1609m) at Port Pirie.
Trained by Heather Stevens for owner Gary McGinty, Bettorhavtime will start from gate seven with Danielle Hill to drive.
“I’m happy with the way he is going and provided he has a bit of luck should go well,” Stevens said. “He’s only a small horse and was a bit on the tubby side but, with regular racing, he is getting fitter.”
Bettorhavtime sprinted home strongly to win at Globe Derby Park two starts back, then led last start but was grabbed late by Bulletproof Boy.
“Dani said previously that he had shown a reluctance to come up the sprint lane,” Stevens said. “So we drove him back and he loved coming with the late run. Because of his draw last week we decided to see how he would go leading. He had to do a bit more work than we would have liked but he still ran very well. Barrier seven is interesting on Sunday but I’ll leave it to Dani, she’ll know what to do.”
The interesting runner is Jaylets Hunta to come from gate one.
The six-year-old has been racing in Mildura and will have its first start for successful Port Pirie trainer Waylon Hornhardt with Wayne Hill to drive. Hill has driven the gelding at Mildura for part-owner David Vozlic so will be aware of its capabilities.
Port Pirie’s star pacer Mymatethomo faces a tough contract on Sunday in the Hopkins Saddlery Pace (2050m). The Lyndon Hall-trained pacer will come from gate five with Danielle Hill to drive, but will find Mondo Sport, trained by Don Girardi, and to be driven by his son Dean a worthy rival. Expect Mondo Sport to begin quickly from gate three and look for the lead which would force Mymatethomo to sit parked.
The interesting runner in the race is Big Behemoth, trained by Leah Harvey and to be driven by Wayne Hill. Big Behemoth hasn’t raced since February 3 when unplaced at Globe Derby Park but the five-year-old has won five of 10 races this season and can go well fresh.
Champion reinswoman Danielle Hill has some excellent drives on the seven-race program. Apart from Bettorhavtime and Mymatethomo, she will also drive Santa Madre and The Shooting Star for trainer Les Harding, Our Little Actress for Leah Harvey, and Badelaide for Tyson Linke. All her drives look to have winning possibilities and she could well leave the meeting with multiple winners.
See if form expert Ben Harding agrees at trotsguide.com.au where he has selections and comments for the entire meeting.
Graham Fischer