Hall’s ambitious plans with Nuala

Although he is a master at producing pacers for first-up wins, champion harness racing trainer Gary Hall has set himself a formidable challenge heading in Friday night’s Gloucester Park meeting.

Hall will produce inexperienced filly Nuala fresh for the $50,000 Schweppes Dainty’s Daughter Classic.

The New Zealand-bred Nuala will enter the Group Two for three-year-old fillies at her third start and at her first appearance for 172 days.

In a highly unorthodox preparation, and a bold approach to a feature, Hall has not given Nuala any lead-up starts, preferring to get her ready by running her in a 2150-metre trial at Byford on each of the past three Sundays.

Driven by Clint Hall, Nuala has not been extended in winning the three trials by margins of six, 45 and 30 metres. In her latest trial, in a field of five, Nuala beat Bettor Twisted by 10 lengths after dashing over the final two quarters in 28.6 and 28.4 seconds.

Nuala has drawn favourably at barrier two, but the daughter of Changeover faces a stern test in the battle for early ascendancy. Drawn on her inside is Delightful Jade, a filly blessed with sparkling early speed and a noted frontrunner.

Along with being first-up from a spell, Nuala is the only filly who has not raced at Gloucester Park. She has earned just $8735 as a result of two wins, while her 10 rivals have won 54 races and earned a combined total of $614,231 – a healthy average of $61,423.

Hall is no stranger to success in the event, having captured last year’s edition with Majorly Foxy Styx, which led throughout with Hall’s son, Gary junior, in the cart.

• KEN CASELLAS