Tough task in $80,000 feature

Terang harness racing trainer Matthew Craven knows exactly how big an assignment Crime Writer (Sportswriter) is facing in the Group 2 $80,000 Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup (2690m) on Friday night (Sep. 23).

“It’s a pretty tough ask from (barrier) seven,” he said.

“Had he drawn to be on the pegs without having to work, I would have been confident he’d run a nice race.

“I’m not saying he won’t do that, but from the draw we won’t be expecting too much.

“Glen (Craven) will take all short cuts and look after him, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

As well as some luck, what Craven is looking for more than anything in the run is a solid pace.

He says that is when Crime Writer is at his best.

Craven said the six-year-old had shown he could maintain a good solid tempo.

“He seems to thrive in races run with the pace on – especially though the middle stages – just as we saw on Saturday,” he said.

Crime Writer finished hard down the outside after settling four back on the pegs to get second behind Copy That in the Gammalite Free For All at Tabcorp Park Melton, where the middle 400m sections of the last mile were run in 28.2 and 27.5 seconds.

“He doesn’t have a big finish, but can maintain a solid pace and then be doing his best at the end,” Craven said.

“If things go his way, they always know he’s there.”

Crime Writer is one of the outsiders, with Honolua Bay favourite in an open betting market.

Despite his odds, Crime Writer has been racing consistently well since resuming on the back of a successful Queensland winter campaign in which he was a listed winner.

He finished second to Sanday first-up at Melton and fourth to Mighty Flying Art in the Group 3 Melton Pace Final before the Gammalite.

Craven is unsure exactly what races Crime Writer might be able to work his way into in coming weeks, but is hopeful the son of Sportswriter can earn a start in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship in Victoria through November-December.

“It’d be great to see him perform well enough over coming weeks to get a spot in the series,” he said.

“I think he’d really enjoy the format.”

And one good way of securing a place in the series is by winning the Kilmore Pacing Cup. The race offers a golden ticket into the ID22 heats for the winner.

Craven is also taking three-year-olds Rubins Plight and Heza Son Of Agun to Kilmore.

A winner of three of six starts, Rubins Plight is taking a big step up in class in the $25,000 Reg Withers 3YO Classic (2180m).

Two-time Group 1 winner Heza Son Of Agun is making a low-key return from a break in the Carlton & United Breweries Pace (2180m).

Craven said he decided to take on the older horses with Heza Son O Agun to get a better draw.

“We know he’s a very good horse, but he’s had a long time off.

“Hopefully he’ll put in a nice run to kick off the campaign on the right foot,” Craven said.

The Victoria Derby, Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series are all on the radar for him.

For complete race fields, click here.

by David Brehaut, for HRV