Olivieri confident heading into Empress

Oakford trainer Ross Olivieri predicts harness racing mare Sensational Gabby will improve on last week’s effort and has excellent prospects of winning the Empress Stakes at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Sensational Gabby registered fighting half-length second to Indomitable when first-up for a month.

“That was her first run for five weeks and she will be fitter this week,” said Olivieri, who boasts three wins in the Empress Stakes.

“She sat in the breeze, and probably in hindsight, you would have liked her to have put a bit more pressure on Indomitable early. But then again that might have been to our detriment.”

Although he feels barrier four makes Sensational Gabby’s task harder, Olivieri’s confidence grew after Indomitable drew the outside of the front row.

Indomitable led throughout from the pole last week, while Sensational Gabby worked over time in the ‘death seat’.

Sensational Gabby will be driven by champion reinsman Chris Lewis, who is aiming for an incredible eighth success in the Group Two.

Lewis’ previous wins were with Candy Nacray in 1988, Armbro Lucy (1992), Meggie Dear (2001), Classical Mover (2002), Shes Royalty (2007), Ima Spicey Lombo (2011) and Sensational Gabby (2014).

Victory will also see Sensational Gabby join an elite sorority, with only three mares completing multiple wins in the feature’s 46-year history.

Bellagena was the ground breaker in 1971 and ‘72), followed by Kiwi Cloud in ‘77 and ‘79 and Golden Goddess, which is the only triple winner thanks to her triumphs in 1997, ’98 and ‘99.

• KEN CASELLAS