Vicbred long shot is a real family affair

Charlene Gusman counts Clives Girl (Bettor’s Delight) as another member of her family, ahead of the harness racing mare’s appearance in the Group 1 Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old mares.

The daughter of Shes Norma Jeane currently sits as an outsider in the market at $201 with Sportsbet.

“She is a very, very long chance on Saturday, but we are very excited to just be in the race, the family is all very happy” Gusman said. “All my family follow all my horses.

“It’s really nice to get them in a big race and a lot of my family are coming down on Saturday night to watch, they always love coming down to support me.”

The pacer finished ninth and fourth in the heats and semi-final respectively at Melton Entertainment Park to qualify for Saturday night’s $150,000 event.

“She is fine and came through the run fine.” Gusman said.

The winner of one race from 22-starts has been a work in progress.

“She came down as a two-year-old and won a Group 2 in her second start,” she said.

“She made the sires final and before the race, she had quite a bad accident and that changed her three and four-year-old season, she did some damage to her legs.

“She hasn’t seen her full potential yet, hopefully she has come through with her manners and can have a good run on Saturday night.

The Monegeetta horsewoman has had 38-wins in her career which has included a Group 2 win, but a top-level feature would be the icing on the cake.

“It would be amazing to win,” she said.

“She is nowhere near the quality of the field on Saturday night, but we are just grateful she made it into a Group 1 again.”

The mare by Bettors Delight has drawn two for the 2240m trip with Nathan Jack set to pilot.

“The barrier draw has been very good to us,” she said.

“I would say he will just try and hide her in somewhere from the draw. Nathan (Jack) has driven him before, so he will know what to do.”

Hot favourite, Sweet Bella, has drawn one for Emma Stewart and Mark Pitt.

The Group 1 Rock N Roll Heaven Vicbred Super Series final for four-year-old mares is set to score up at 10.42pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria