Draw advantage for favourites in $100,000 Final tonight

Tonight’s final of the $100,000 TAB Western Regional Championships at Bathurst had a little more intrigue added to it after the harness racing barrier draw was released producing an interesting line up on the front tier.

Some of the more fancied runners have come up with key draws which will give them the opportunity to go forward and find a position to enable them to dictate terms.

Pre-race favourite Fashion Icon (Betting Line) has drawn ideally in gate one and has the services of champion driver Amanda Turnbull who also trains the gelding.

The four-year-old could not have been more impressive in winning his heat after sitting three-wide for the last 1000 metres, Turnbull having set him for the series some time ago.

From his soft barrier it would be reasonable to assume that this will allow Turnbull to control the race should she be able to lead.

But with the likes Eagle Commander and the other heat winner Hunter Shannon possessing abundant early speed and being drawn immediately to Fashion Icon’s outside, there is no guarantee that Turnbull will be able to hold the front.

Reinsman Justin Reynolds handled Hunter Shannon in his heat win and has retained the drive tonight, believing the horse has what it takes to win the rich final.

Trained by Peter Bullock for prominent owners Peter and Marie Neil, Hunter Shannon enjoyed a cosy run when leading throughout to qualify after securing a moderate first half before narrowly holding off Terryrama over the concluding stages.

“He is a really nice horse, who is still learning his craft, and he deserves his spot in this final based on his recent performances,” said Reynolds.

“I was pleased that I was able to dictate terms with no pressure in the heat.

“Terryrama is a good tough horse that won the initial Championships Final and when he joined us at the top of the straight my guy just kept finding in the drive to the line.

“To be honest I would have preferred to have drawn inside of Fashion Icon, who is the one to beat. But I will just charge him out of the gate and a look for a forward position.”

It is a solid nine-race program at the Gold Crown Paceway this evening, a $16,000 consolation of the Championships being the main support to the feature.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW