Spell cast over opening Triple Crown clash

Avalon harness trainer Nathan Purdon will wheel out another of his stars for the opening leg of the Elizabeth Clarke Mares Triple Crown in Ballarat on Saturday night.

Spellbound, who announced herself as one of the best mares in the country after arriving from New Zealand early in the year, is back from a break and ready to tackle the TAB Make Mine Cullen at Bray Raceway.

The four-year-old has won four of seven starts here in Australia and was narrowly beaten in the Group 1 Golden Girl at Albion Park in mid-July before a spell.

She has drawn the back row in barrier nine for Saturday night’s Group 3 feature, which is the first leg of the Mares Triple Crown. A $10,000 bonus will be awarded to the successful owner of the horse who accumulates the highest number of points through the series, which also takes in the Angelique Club Pace at Geelong on October 23 and Benstud Queen Of The Pacific at Tabcorp Park Melton on October 30.

The points system is as follows: 1st – 8 points, 2nd – 5 points, 3rd – 3 points, 4th – 2 points and 5th – 1 point.

An additional $20,000 bonus will also be paid to the owner of a horse that is able to win all three legs of the series.

Spellbound will face a quality field of mares, including Emma Stewart’s gun Maajida, Tasmanian raider Blame It On Me (Douglas Nettlefold), last-start Alabar Vicbred Platinum Mares Sprint Championship Final winner Shesmybaby (Greg Murnane) and David Miles-trained pair The Pantheist and Enchanted Stride.

The Group 1 Catanach’s Jewellers Victoria Trotters Oaks is the headline act on Saturday night’s card, with a capacity field selected for the $60,000 three-year-old feature.

Dual Group 1 winner Banglez (Stewart) has drawn barrier two and will be one of the leading fancies, while KerryAnn Morris’ top filly Aldebaran Ursula is set to make the trip down from New South Wales.

Brent Lilley-trained Queen Elida has opened her latest campaign with three-straight victories and has come up with barrier three, while Sangreal and Tipsy Turvy are the two runners from the Maree Caldow yard.

Tim O’Connor and Nikkita Ross will host the Saturday night TrotsVision coverage, alongside caller Dan Mielicki.

The feature racing will then continue on Sunday with two big events out of Maryborough.

The Community Bank Maryborough Gold Cup and TAB Maryborough Trotters Cup will both be staged at Group 3 level, with final acceptances to be taken on Wednesday.

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By Tim O’Connor via thetrots.com.au