Recent harness racing Gold Crown and Tiara contenders are among the starters for this Wednesday night’s Graeme Board And Co Sales Graduate Heats.
Gold Tiara fourth place finisher and Pink Bonnet placegetter Ally Rogan looks set to start a raging favourite for the fillies heat.
The Dennis Picker-trained filly broke at the start of the Group 1 feature and fought hard to get herself back in the race.
Amanda Turnbull’s Gold Crown Gold Consolation runner-up Shoobee Doo and Gemma Rue’s Gold Crown Bronze Consolation winner Carribean Jack look to be the leading hopes in the colts and geldings heat.
“Dennis’ filly galloped in the Tiara final and hadn’t really done much wrong before that. She ran really well in the heat and they had big expectations for her in that final so she’ll be the one to beat,” Bathurst Harness Racing Club CEO Danny Dwyer said.
“Amanda’s horse did a few things wrong early in his heat … but in the consolation race put in a tough run for second so he’s looking like the one to watch.”
The Bathurst heats are open to horses purchased at last year’s Gold Crown Yearling Sales.
The races have normally been held as a prelude to the Gold Crown Carnival but this season have shifted to a post-carnival position.
“This year we decided to run it after the carnival, after consulting with trainers, to allow us to hopefully get more horses paying up for the race,” Dwyer said.
“It was getting a bit congested in the lead up to the carnival in previous years.”
The nine race meeting starts at 5.12pm.
By Alexander Grant