Inside alley a worry for Anton’s Jet in $100,000 Grand Prix

Harness racing’s Anton Golino says the inside barrier draw isn’t ideal for Im Ready Jet when she chases a major windfall on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park Melton.

The Cardigan trainer has the star mare drawn gate one in the $100,000 TAB Australian Trotters Grand Prix and she can capture a lucrative $50,000 bonus with success in the Group 1 feature.

Im Ready Jet sits second on the Aurora Australis standings, two points behind Andy Gath-trained Majestuoso heading into the weekend’s eighth and final race of the series.

A win would assure Im Ready Jet victory in the Aurora Australis, but the points system (1st: 8, 2nd: 5, 3rd: 3, 4th: 2, 5th: 1) means a forward finish over her key rival can still secure the title.

Golino has stablemate and quick beginner Always Ready drawn in gate two, and with Majestuoso two to the right in barrier four, an enthralling speed battle is likely to kick off the 2240m showdown.

“To be totally honest, barrier one for her is not the best position,” Golino told Trots Talk.

“She’s a big, free-going type of horse. Being in one, she might be a little jammed up there, as we seen in the heat of the Great Southern Star where she actually galloped away from barrier one.

“On paper it looks all great, but in reality it’s probably not the greatest draw for her.

“Barrier two for him (Always Ready) is a good barrier. He’s a horse that’s got a heap of gate speed and from there, I guess, you’re nearly obliged to use it.”

Golino said Im Ready Jet was his best chance in the race and rated her the better horse of the two stablemates.

Im Ready Jet qualified for the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series Final with a last-start win at Shepparton, but with that race also on Saturday night’s card, Golino has opted to chase the better prizemoney and Aurora Australis bonus attached to the Grand Prix.

“Obviously it’s a great incentive the bonus with the series,” he said.

“It’s been a great series the whole way through. There’s been exciting racing and it would be nice to win it.”

Fellow Golino-trained mare Hopeful Beauty chased home Im Ready Jet in last week’s Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed For Speed Gold Series heat and looks a good chance in Saturday night’s $50,000 final.

Bronze and Silver finals will also be held at Melton for lower grade trotting mares, with those races worth $14,000 and $24,000 respectively.

The meeting doubles as the annual Night At The Trots event, a major fundraiser for Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group.

For more details about Saturday night’s Team Teal activities and to monitor the drivers’ progress click here.

LISTEN TO GOLINO’S INTERVIEW ON TROTS TALK BELOW: