Svanosio to ask Miley out of the gate in APTS final

Chris Svanosio aims to reveal the unknown when the mobile releases the harness racing field in the Australasian Trotting Premier Sale final for three-year-old fillies at Melton on Saturday night (Jul. 22).

Svanosio will partner Aldebaran Miley (Father Patrick), who has drawn the coveted pole position, while her main danger Cognati will negotiate a mid-front row draw in the six-horse field.

“I’d like to stay in front of Cognati if I could, I have never asked her to come out of the gate because I haven’t had to but I think she will have some gate speed and we’ll find out on Saturday night,” Svanosio said.

He said the well-bred daughter of Father Patrick had further developed as a three-year-old.

“She has always been a big strong filly but she has filled out this year,” he said.

“She was a pretty good two-year-old, she got caught in the death from barrier 12 in the Vicbred final and still ran third and this year she has started to put some wins together.”

Svanosio is hoping Saturday night will be a pointer to the feature races later in the year.

“I think she is a real chance on Saturday night and hopefully it will kick start a good campaign in the good races later in the year,” he said.

The Jess Tubbs-trained Cognati has returned in fine fettle as a three-year-old unbeaten in two starts including an all-the-way heat win at Ballarat.

The Australian Premier Trotting Sales final for three-year-old colts and geldings is an open affair with little separating four of the six runners.

The Wayne Potter trained Avenel Eagle ran down the odds-on favorite, NSW visitor Aldebaran Jensen, in the heat at Ballarat and has the advantage of starting from the pole with the latter drawing alongside in barrier two.

Imhavinagoodtime was beaten into fifth place after leading in the heat but would be hard to beat if he recaptured the form that saw him prevail in the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic Final two starts ago.

Darcys Fireball caught the eye in his heat, coming from last before hitting the line strongly to finish runner-up behind Avenel Eagle.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria