Rixon looking for five straight

Five-year-old mare Im Presie Belle (Mach Three) is amongst the most in form pacers currently racing in New South Wales this harness racing season.

Prepared at Pheasants Nest by Peter Rixon, the last-start Canberra Cup winner is raced by well-known Condell Park couple Peter and Loretta Dewsbury who bred the daughter of Mach Three from their former champion juvenile White Thunder.

The winner of 14 races has performed consistently right throughout her career and will head to Penrith tonight, hoping to make it five wins on the bounce.

However, after drawing gate nine over the 1720 metre trip, Im Presie Belle will need to be every bit as good as her current form has been.

Will Rixon, who is driving in career best form, will take the reins again tonight and admits that the mare is rapidly becoming one of his favourite horses to drive and believes that the best is still ahead of her.

“She is a talented little mare with a massive motor,” said Rixon.

“Dad has managed her racing program well as she steps through the grades, and she is taking it all in her stride.

“The way she flattened out last start to win the Canberra Cup was impressive.

“The leader and odds-on favourite Tin Tin Jo set a farcical early speed over the long trip, and we were a fair way off them at the bell, but she knuckled down late to get the victory.

“I do feel that she has found another winnable race tonight and should be able to track through from the second line and then get over the top of her opposition.”

Now that the mare is rising in grade, it will not be too long before Rixon will be looking to place Im Presi Belle into a Saturday night metropolitan race at Tabcorp Park Menangle.

As is customary, Rixon has a busy night at Penrith where he will drive in five of the eight races.

Apart from Im Pressi Belle, Rixon’s best winning chance appears to be with the Rickie Alchin trained Montalbano in race two.

Drawn in gate three, Montalbano is likely to start as a short-priced favourite as the three year old is dropping in class and has never been far away in nine starts since winning at Menangle back in September last year.