Craven hoping Bettor Isolate can measure up

Mattie Craven is circumspect when analyzing the harness racing chances of Bettor Isolate (Bettor’s Delight) who returns to Melton for the first time in 12 months in the Prydes EasiFeed Lazarus Free For All on Saturday night.

The lightly-raced five-year-old campaigned in Brisbane during last year’s winter carnival where he was unbeaten in two outings prior to winning both his heat and final of the Group 2 NSW Breeders Challenge (4YO Entires and Geldings) at Menangle.

Bettor Isolate lowered his colours for the first time in six starts when he was beaten into third place behind My Ultimate Ronnie in the Riverina Entires and Geldings Final at Wagga seven weeks ago.

“It wasn’t ideal in the final the way the race panned out, but the winner did its share of work and was too good on the night,” Craven said.

Craven said he will adopt a conservative approach behind the reins as Bettor Isolate makes his debut in open class ranks in Victoria.

“There’s no hiding as he comes back and this is his grade now taking on horses who are Group 1 winners,” he said.

“So he’ll just poke around and I won’t be asking too much of him on Saturday night.”

Craven admits it’s difficult to predict to what heights Bettor Isolate will reach during the next 12 months.

“We have to just wait and see if he’s good enough to measure up,” he said.

“He’s got the speed to reach a high level and time will tell whether he has the toughness needed to go with it.

“In this class at the moment he is one dimensional where he needs cover.”

Bettor Isolate ($4) is on the second line of betting behind the Emma Stewart trained Hurricane Harley ($2.25 fav), who hasn’t raced since finishing fourth behind Catch A Wave in the Miracle Mile three months ago.

A brilliant beginner, Hurricane Harley should have little difficulty crossing to the pegs from barrier four, and over the 1720 metre sprint trip he appeals as the horse to beat.

This will be the inaugural running of the Lazarus Free For All, a race named in honour of the superstar Kiwi pacer who won four Group 1 races at Melton from four starts at the track.

Earlier in the night, two Anton Golino-trained last-start Group 1 winners resume in the Logical Staffing Solutions Trot.

Egret is first-up since being victorious in the Woodlands Stud Breeders Crown (3YO Trotting Fillies) Final in November, while Revelstoke is making her return to the racetrack after taking out the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Super Series (3YO Trotting Fillies) Final in December.

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harness Racing Victoria