Connections to pick draws in Breeders Challenge

It’s probably every harness racing trainer-driver’s dream.

Choosing the barrier you want your horse to start from is the perfect reward for showing your talent in the heats.

And Harness Racing NSW are rewarding the fastest qualifiers in their Breeders Challenge four-year-old series by doing just that.

Qualification for the finals will be based on the 12 fastest individual mile rates from both qualifying heats.

For example, eight horses could technically qualify from qualifying heat ‘A’ while only four might qualify from qualifying heat ‘B’.

After tonight’s (Oct. 15) two mares’ qualifying heats (Races 2 and 3) at Menangle, connections will be asked to send one representative for each horse to select their barrier for the $50,000 final on September 29.

That ensures there should be speed on from the outset in tonight’s two qualifying races with the ‘carrot’ being the fastest get first choice of what barrier they want to come out of in the final.

And while there are normally 10 horses off the front line in most races at Tabcorp Park Menangle, the four-year-old finals will have another innovation with eight coming from the front row and four from the second row in the mobile start final.

And the emergency horses, drawn in order, will be automatically allocated barriers 13 (first emergency) and 14 (second emergency) for the purpose of the field order.

The Jack Trainor trained and driven Orchid Stride looks likely to start favourite in tonight’s first of the four-year-olds’ qualifying heats (Race 2) with serious threats to come from Ballerini (Bernie Hewitt) and Heavenly Holly (Michael Formosa).

The second qualifying heat (Race 3) looks to be there for the taking for the Jason Grimson trained and Cameron Hart driven Tay Tay, who has been in stunning form in recent weeks.

Despite drawing three off the second row tonight, Tay Tay has been installed a $1.20 favourite with Machs Legacy (Jack Callaghan for Cameron Ross), the only other horse under double figures at $7.50.

Meanwhile invitations have been sent for the annual Claiming Concessional Drivers’ Invitation series, which will also be run on Breeders Challenge and Len Smith Mile final night, (September 29).

As the 2021 winner, the Riverina’s Blake Micallef is assured of an invitation.

Others invited to contest the ‘penalty-free’ race are: Lleyton Green, Jack Brown, Seaton Grima, Taylah Osmond, Justin Reynolds, Travis Bullock, Blake Hughes, Grace Panella and Jemma Coney.

The two reserves are Sofia Arvidsson and James Locke.

For complete race entries for Menangle Saturday, click here.

by Michael Court, for HRNSW