Upset chance for Im Presi Belle and the Rixons

Im Presi Belle (Mach Three) will be out to throw a cat amongst the pigeons when she tackles the $150,000 Benstud Stanardbreds Queen Of The Pacific at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday.

The Peter Rixon-trained five-year-old will have to contend with the seven-strong Emma Stewart-trained harness racing team – headlined by Ladies In Red, Amore Vita and Encipher – when she competes in the mares’ Group 1 classic.

Rixon says his pacer will need a lot of luck from an uncomfortable front row seven barrier draw.

“I think she will go okay,” Rixon said.

“The draw is obviously not ideal. I was hoping to get a soft draw with her and (there’s) obviously some really good horses in it.

“I’m sure she will run a good race.”

The NSW trainer hasn’t put stealing the race beyond his mare, who currently sits at the long odds of $61 with the TAB.

Im Presi Belle’s only run in Victoria came back on June 3 when she rallied late down the outside to win the Melton Mares’ Championship.

“She would need a run to suit her,” Rixon said.

“They would certainly have to overdo it, the favourites. That may bring her into it.

“But It doesn’t look great on paper from that draw.”

Im Presi Belle will be driven by Peter’s son Will, who doesn’t need a lot of advice heading into a Group 1. The 22-year-old reinsman already has elite-level success under his belt having claimed the $100,000 Riverina TAB Championship in 2021.

“He drives a lot and doesn’t sort of need much advice from me,” Peter said.

“He knows how she’s best driven. She would have dropped back (in the field) no matter where she drew, she can finish off and everything. Ideally, it would be great if she can run top four.”

Peter is still optimistic his mare can exceed the bookies’ expectations over the marathon 2760m trip.

“The distance is a big plus for us, I don’t think the distance will be a problem,” he said.

“She has obviously raced well there before, her form is really good too. Everything is good, it’s just the draw that’s going to make it really hard.”

Im Presi Belle will feature in race five on a stacked card from MEP, which includes the return of Victoria Cup winner Act Now in the mouth-watering Cogs Services 4YO and 5YO Championship.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria