It is Christmas Cup night at The Creek and both the pacers and trotter’s races promise to be even and exciting contests.
The trotters will see Gus back in action on his home deck after making an error in the first round of the Inter Dominion at Newcastle when looming strongly.
Trialling against the pacers back at Albion Park since that error, the enigmatic square gaiter looked particularly sharp, running slick time in the 1660 metre trial, however he will need to overcome the 30m back mark for Christmas Cup glory.
The early favourite with Ladbrokes is Get Used To It who will start from the front tape in the discretionary handicap event as he steps up to tackle an experienced field.
The Darren Weeks trained five-year-old is only lightly raced and will have just his 13th race start this Saturday, with regular driver Angus Garrard to once again take the lines.
Get Used To It
“It’s a massive step up and a big field and you see horses like Gus in there and know how talented they are, so it will be a good test for him, but I certainly don’t think it is out of his reach,” Garrard said.
“We thought he was very talented, but he just keeps stepping up.
“That last start win at Albion Park and stepping up to Saturday night grade, he was super professional, stepped super, landed the front comfortably and when I asked him to zip up off the turn he was super sharp.”
Starting as a right outside draw runner off the front tape, should allow Get Used To It plenty of time and space to balance up, while Garrard is mindful that Gus is lining up in the field.
“If he is 100%, he is the hardest to beat by a long way,” he said.
With Get Used To It and Gus stifling the market, there looks to be plenty of value on offer around those two runners for several well credentialed trotters.
Zealous Spur ran a huge race to claim victory last start over the mobile 2138 metre trip, while Victree Hill was attacking the line for a strong 2nd placing in that race.
Hide And Seek is brilliant at his best and off the front tape can press forward early, Hammer Son has been super consistent in recent months, while Call Me Trouble was sectionally brilliant last week when running on late.
Garrard heads to Saturday’s meeting with a solid chance of annexing both the trotters and pacers Christmas Cup’s, taking the drive on Classie Washington for his father, Daren, in the pacers event.
Resuming from a freshen following a luckless run in the Queensland Cup behind Blacksadance where he drew poorly, the seven-year-old trialled recently to prepare for a first up tilt at the Christmas Cup.
Aroda tackles the Christmas Cup
“We wanted to freshen him up a little bit for this race,” Angus said of the 13-time winner.
Faced with some tough barriers at headquarters this year, Classie Washington has started from gate five or wider in six of his seven runs at The Creek this season, so landing the plum marble was a welcome relief.
“Definitely a blessing to get a draw like that.
“I think we are probably the most proven stayer.
“He led over 2600 in an Inter Dominion heat this time last year and only just go beat by Better Eclipse and there is no Better Eclipse in this race.
“I think he should be hard to beat.”
There will be plenty of runners ready to take on Classie Washington with Hot And Treacherous set to appreciate an improved gate following his second up fade out when working from gate seven.
Tims A Trooper attacked the line strongly last week in producing some slick closing sections, while the metro premiership leading stable of Chantal Turpin will be represented with four runners and all four are owned by Craig Whiteoak.
The most intriguing of the quartet is Duke Of Scotland which will start from barrier nine after a demolition of his rivals last week from barrier 12.
The Christmas Cup will be his biggest test to date as he steps up against established open class performers, the four-year-old gelding an impressive type that has won six of his nine starts at since arriving from New Zealand.
Chantal will take the reins on the gelding, with Pete opting to drive Always Smokin which will likely be pressing forward from gate five.
Interstate, we wish Cristina and Charlie Cini, along with Ricky Thurlow and Jimartee all the best as they contest the Inter Dominion pacing final at Menangle.
Race 1 at The Creek is scheduled for 5.37pm.
The Garrards Trotters Christmas Cup is Race 4 at 7.26pm and the Somerset Farms Christmas Cup is Race 5 at 8.08pm.
BEST BETS
Chris Barsby- R2 N9 SWEET GEORGIA BROWN
“I think they have found the right race here with the nice trailing draw. I thought the run last week behind her stable mate Miki Magic in really fast time of 1.52 was good. Hoping they go hard early, she’s got that nice trailing draw and she can be strong at the end.”
Darren Clayton- R3 N1 MOSSDALE TERRY
“His recent form has been against stronger opposition than what he will square off against in this battle and he has been freshened for this assignment. With good early speed, he can be first to the pegs and will have the options from there.”
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