Mighty mare looking to upstage the boys

Mighty harness racing mare Ladies In Red (Mach Three) looks right on target to “do an Amazing Dream” and upstage the boys in Saturday week’s $305,000 Group 1 Rising Sun at Albion Park.

Co-trainer Clayton Tonkin is adamant going into the race first-up is ideal for the four-year-old, who boasts 18 wins and four seconds from her 22 starts.

Ladies In Red is widely regarded as the best filly (last season) Australia has produced for 20 years.

She sparkled winning a Melton trial last night (Monday) after being buzzed off the gate to lead from barrier four over 1720m.

Driver Nathan Jack was clearly out to both give some practice being bustled off the starting gate and to ensure she had a solid hitout.

After a 58.7sec first half, Jack let Ladies It Red quicken for a 27.6sec down the back straight and 26.9sec final quarter.

Her mile rate was a slick 1min52.8sec and Ladies In Red won without being asked for any real effort at all.

She easily held-off stablemates Joanna (who led and sat behind her), Beyond Delight (three pegs) and Maajida (four pegs).

“She’s right where we want her,” Tonkin said. “She sat off the pace and ran home really well (53.4sec last half) in a slower trial last week and we wanted to ask a bit more of her this time.”

The Rising Sun will be the first time Ladies In Red has raced the boys.

“Everyone is talking about that and sure it will be a new challenge. With most mares you’d be worried about it, but we’re not with her. She does the things you think she shouldn’t be able to do,” Tonkin said.

Importantly, under the conditions of the Rising Sun, Ladies In Red looks set to draw barrier three given the preferential draw for three-year-olds and four-year-old mares.

The preferential draw went a long way to winning the inaugural Rising Sun for Amazing Dream last year. She began well, got straight into behind the leader and used the sprint lane to win.

If the field stacks up as it looks now, the three-year-olds Leap To Fame and Ripp will have the two inside draws and Ladies In Red will be next door in gate three.

Ladies In Red is booked on a two-hour flight from Melbourne to Brisbane the day before the Rising Sun. She will be accompanied on the flight by Beyond Delight (Bettor’s Delight) and Maajida (Somebeachsomewhere).

Last-start Australian Gold 4YO winner Beyond Delight is also aiming at the Rising Sun.

Maajida is heading north to target the mares’ races, headed by the Group 1 Golden Girl.

One Victorian pacer who won’t be heading north is Mick Stanley’s big and raw four-year-old Rock N Roll Doo.

“We thought about it, but he can’t draw well under the conditions and we’re looking longer term,” Stanley said.

“He can have a break now and come back for some racing before the Victoria Cup and then onto the Inter Dominion.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand