Duffy runner ready to Serg in Mildura Cup

Ryan Duffy is sure to be focused in keeping Serg Blanco’s (Bettor’s Delight) mind on the job in Saturday night’s (Apr. 22) Group 3 $60,000 Tasco Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup.

A $4 second favorite, Serg Blanco is likely to start from the pole and could find himself in front as he did in his harness racing heat, when he was an unlucky runner up behind Tay Tay.

Duffy and Serg Blanco slowed the field to a pedestrian tempo when Tayla French made a mid-race last to first dash on Nationaldraft and were subsequently held up behind the tiring leader at a vital stage in the home straight.

Trainer Steve Duffy conceded things didn’t go to plan.

“I think Ryan had a bit of a nana nap and didn’t see the other horse coming so quickly, having said that Serg Blanco is a funny horse who tends to switch off and he can be hard to switch back on,” Duffy said.

While there appears plenty of early speed off the front, Duffy said Serg Blanco will be driven out in an attempt to hold the lead.

“Ryan will be looking to hold the front and be able to control the race depending on how fast they have gone,” he said.

“Sometimes when there are a few quick beginners off the front they come out staggered, making it easier for those drawn in. He has been thereabouts and he showed in the Cobram Cup that the 2600 metres will suit him.”

Cant Top This, the $2 favorite, has to contend with an inside second row draw and driver Kerryn Manning will be looking to extricate her charge away from the pegs in the early stages in order to join the leading division around the tight Mildura circuit.

Tay Tay too will start from the second row and Alex Ashwood will no doubt be looking to do likewise should the tempo slacken sufficiently during the middle stages of the race.

The Duffy stable will be looking for Wemade Freo to repeat his all-the-way heat win in the Tenderprint Australia Cup Final.

Wemade Freo has been allocated a wide front row draw while the other heat winner, Missed The Truth, has to contend with an awkward inside second row alley.

Earlier in the night John Justice will be hoping Hatchback is on his best behavior in the Mildura Trotters Cup after galloping at the start in the Ararat Trotters Cup three weeks ago.

A regular country cups campaigner in recent seasons, the seven-year-old is a winner of the Bendigo Trotters Cup and has been placed in four others and will be looking to go one better than his second placing in this race two years ago.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria