Lucky Petacular is very, very good.
Yet another horror feature draw means she’s going to have to be better than her rivals – quite a bit better – to win the $150,000 Group 1 Victoria Oaks (2240m) at Melton on Friday night.
The Mick Stanley-trained star will start from outside he back row (gate 12), while major rivals Shezallapples (gate two), Keayang Secret (five) and Miss Graceland (seven) have the front row.
It continues her run of awful draws in major races. Petacular has never driven inside gate seven in a Group 1 race, including gate 12 and gate 14 when placed in both the Breeders Crown 2YO and NSW Oaks finals respectively.
“It’s not idea, but we’re sort of used to it now,” Stanley said. “Luckily she’s tough and versatile and has run some big races from bad draws in the past.”
Providing Petacular comes through Friday night's race well, Stanley looks set to take her across the Tasman for the NZ Oaks and Harness Jewels.
The other Group 1 at Melton on Friday is the Australasian Trotting Championship where classy Kiwi mare Sunny Ruby and classy NSW trotter On Thunder Road look the key runners despite being co-backmarkers from 20m handicaps.
The Melton card also features three qualifying heats for the rich Australian Gold 2YO series for colts and geldings when Fly Like An Eagle’s baby brother, Higherthananeagle, is the most interesting runner.
The David Aiken-trained youngster made a costly early gallop when second on debut, then bolted in at his only run since in quick time.
“He’s pretty smart. We’ve got a good opinion of him. He’s got plenty of speed,” Aiken said.
Adam Hamilton