D-day has arrived for Team Raboki. Harness racing co-trainers Shannon Price and Scott Miller venture to Albion Park this Saturday with a dual-pronged attack on the Gr.1 $100,000 QBRED Triad 3yo Fillies Final.
Bettor Promise and Bettorthanspecial will both sport the familiar black and red silks in what shapes as the season long target.
While most expected the classy Bettor's Delight fillies to dominate features this term, they’re both winless to date after coming up short in the QBRED Breeders Classic and the recent Nursery Pace series.
“We’ve been close but close enough unfortunately but I’m hopeful we can turn that around this weekend. This has been the main target for the season because of the prizemoney plus we’re opposed to local talent without taking on all comers.” Price said.
The chances of landing the major prize this weekend took a massive hit when both fillies landed front-line draws and Price is keen to see both fillies up on the pace.
Bettor Promise will start from gate four while Bettorthanspecial will start from gate six.
“With both fillies drawing well, it takes all guesswork out of the equation and the instructions will be simple and I’m expecting both will very close to lead and trying to control it as soon as possible. We have to make full use of these good draws so we’ll be going forward.
“In many ways the season to date has been a little frustrating starting with the setback which forced us out of the NSW Oaks while we were on the back foot entering the Breeders Classic series and then we came up short in the Nursery Pace. We can’t worry about what we’ve missed but we can control what’s in front of us this weekend and that’s the sole focus.
“Both fillies have trained well this week and everything seems in order, they’re blood reports came back reading well so they’re healthy and happy. It would be great to land a perfect result again like last season when Bettorthanspecial held off Bettor Promise; hopefully this will be a springboard into the winter carnival features like the Queensland Oaks in July.”
Last season, Bettorthanspecial beat Bettor Promise by a half head margin in the 2yo QBRED Triad Final.
Team Raboki are no strangers to success in the Queensland Oaks either after landing the prize back in 2006 with All Promises.
by Chris Barsby