Team Zav bound for Bathurst gold

Prominent harness racing outfit Team Zav appears set to play a key role in Saturday (30 Mar.) night’s Gold Crown Finals at Bathurst.

One of Australia’s largest investors at the annual yearling sales, Team Zav comprises Geelong based businessman Danny Zavitsanos and his wife Jo who are making the 20-hour round trip to Bathurst along with family and friends.

“We’ve hired a bus and can’t wait for Saturday night, we’ll have the Team Zav banner flying high” Zavitsanos said.

“The Bathurst Gold Crown is a great carnival and we’ve aimed some of our best two and three year olds at it,” he said.

Zavitsanos admits the night will be memorable should last week’s impressive heat winner, debutant Fox Dan (Art Major), salute in the Group 1 $150,000 Gold Crown Final.

“He is out of Jodila who is the first horse I bought in harness racing,” he said.

Fox Dan, the $1.85 pre post favorite after drawing the pole, raced three and four wide for the first 700 metres in his heat.

“He was given plenty of time to balance up in the heat and he has never been asked to come out of the gate,  but he’ll be hard to beat if he finds the front or ends up behind the leader,” he said.

Team Zav is also represented by War Dan Buddy (Art Major) who is the $2.10 favorite in the Group 2 $100,000 Gold Chalice Final.

War Dan Buddy ran the quickest time of the day rating 1:52.7 when he led all the way in his heat.

“The reason he ran that time was he was hitting the cart but he still was able to run it,” he said.

Bookmakers expect NSW Derby winner Soho Spectre ($2.50) (Art Major) to provide stern opposition despite its awkward second row draw.

Zavitsanos said the Emma Stewart stable expects Eureka Jo (Bettors Delight) to replicate her heat run when she ran top line filly Lux Aeterna to half a neck on the line.

“She was impressive in the heat and her work this week has been sensational,” he said.

Lux Aeterna (Captaintreacherous) has to contend with an inside second row alley however bookmakers expect her to strip fitter for her first up heat win and have installed her a $1. 80 favorite in the Group 2 Gold Bracelet Final.

Unbeaten emerging star filly Bittersweet will be sent out the shortest priced favorite for the night after bookmakers installed her a $1.18 popular elect from the pole in the Group 1 $150,000 Gold Tiara Final.

The daughter of Captaintreacherous was barely out of second gear when she annihilated her rivals by 40 metres in her heat rating 1:54.7.

Trainer Brad Hewitt delivered an ominous observation when asked to assess Bittersweet’s chances in the Final.

“She has continued to step up a rung in each of the three starts and on her work this week she will be even better on Saturday night,” Hewitt said.

“She is a deceiving filly in that she doesn’t feel like she is going as quickly as she is – but then that’s what the really good ones do,” he said.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink