Northern Tasmania will host a harness racing double-header this weekend with Sunday’s $12,000 Burnie Cup the feature event.
The Todd Rattray-trained Full Speed Ahead will be trying to make it a hat-trick of country feature wins after taking out the cups at St Marys and Scottsdale.
Rattray landed a similar treble this time last year when Fortino won the Scottsdale, Burnie and New Norfolk cups.
Full Speed Ahead faces a tougher task this week off a 20-metre handicap but has 2789m to make up the leeway.
His main danger looks to be up-and-coming Smilin Geoff who, despite being six years of age, has had only 17 starts for six wins.
Smilin Geoff was unplaced at his only previous run in a stand but was severely checked on that occasion.
Standing start specialist Laughyaheadoff, a winner of five races at Burnie, should also be hard to beat if she can step to the front from barrier two.
Meanwhile, remarkable 14-year-old Destreos looks well placed to win his 99th race at Mowbray on Friday night.
He will have only five rivals in the Free For All and should edge a step closer to his elusive century.
The Ken Rattray-trained gelding was a beaten favourite at Carrick 12 days ago but had to come off 30 metres and wasn’t helped by very windy conditions.
His last run in a free-for-all was in Hobart three starts ago when he beat Mister Lennox who enhanced the form when he won last Sunday’s $25,000 Hobart Pacing Cup.
Destreos is opposed to recent winners Queens Advocate and Remember Joe while Fernco Bobby G has been freshened since his last run and should be very competitive.