One last chance for star filly

Star filly Anntonia will have one last chance to qualify for harness racing’s lucrative Breeders Challenge Final.

The Group 1 winner will face the last metropolitan heat at Menangle on Tuesday after finishing third in her first attempt at qualifying.

Despite finishing in the money at Penrith on September 16, trainer David Thorn said the Bettors Delight three-year-old was not 100 per cent.

“After the run we ran some bloods on her and it showed she tied up,” said Thorn.

“I’ve changed her feed and she is a lot better now.

“She trialled at Menangle last week against Line Up and Expensive Ego and she ran a mile in about 52 (one minute and 52 seconds) herself.

“There is no point sugar-coating it, she is better than what she produced at Penrith last start.”

Anntonia, a winner of nine of her 16 starts and more than $270,000 in prizemoney, will start favourite for her heat on Tuesday (race five).

She will be driven by Luke McCarthy for the first time with usual reinsman Jack Trainor currently suspended.

One horse missing from these qualifiers is Tasty Delight while Breeders Challenge heat winner Bar Room Banta will also race at Menangle on Tuesday in race 10.

To view the fields for Menangle on Tuesday click here.

Watch Anntonia’s recent trial at Menangle below:

By Amanda Rando for HRNSW