Harris With Five Hopes For Brian Johnstone Series
Five heats of the lucrative Group 3 Brian Johnstone series will be run this Thursday night at Angle Park, with the South Australian bred series playing host to some of our better young chasers. Last year's race was taken out by Zinfandel Bart and quinelled by Springvale Nikki with both chasers owned by one of the states leading breeders, Gavin Harris. On Thursday, Gavin will have a runner of his own in each heat, as he aims to take out the $25,000 to the winner final. After five heats are run this week, two semis will take place next week, with the three week series to culminate with a final on the 24th of November.
Gavin offered his thoughts on all of his chances for Thursday night's heats.
Race 2, Box 1 - Springvale Jess
“She’s always a chance, the main thing at this stage is to get through to the semis. You just need to run top three to make it. I’m just hoping she can get through”
Race 3, Box 7 - Maestro Luke
“I’d prefer him on the rail, he trialled 30.84 on Saturday. I’ve been away overseas on holiday so he’s maybe a bit underdone.”
Race 4, Box 1 - Springvale Dave
“He’s improved, he won that prelude which was a bit of a surprise. He’s going okay.”
Race 6. Box 7 - Dashing Deb
“I think she’s the best out of all of them, but she didn’t trial too well on Saturday. She’s had some hip support type problems which I’ve been treating all week. I think she will be alright but her trial was a bit ordinary.”
Race 7, Box 8 - Springvale Bray
“Out of all of them he trialled the best, he went 30.71 on Saturday. He’s a bit hit and miss though so we will see what happens.”
“He comes over home very good, but he’s not real fast early. His first sections are not too bad but it’s his midsection, then he comes home strong. It’s all about luck in the run and where he is positioned.”
Gavin found it hard to split his runners as to the best chance in the series, but will be hoping that Dashing Deb can get through.
“If my treatments work and she (Dashing Deb) can get through then she’s got the most ability. I think Maestro Luke is starting to get the hang of things, I’ve always thought that he’s the fastest out of the litter, but he hasn’t shown it too much, although he did run over the top of Spring Honour. He’s still working it out in the fields, he bumps into dogs and things like that.”
“It’s hard to know really, they are all around the same mark, 30.70 type thing. They are getting older so hopefully there's some improvement coming through.”
Unsurprisingly, Gavin believes that Bobby Axelrod will be the hardest to beat in the series this year. The form of the Dillon Robinson trained chaser has been exceptional, after stamping himself as a serious prospect when winning a race in best of night time on Adelaide Cup night.
Away from the Group 3 heats on Thursday, punters will get to see a red hot 3/4 grade race, with some of our best chasers in the state engaged, including Came And Went, Top Quality, Propelled and Hudson Road.
Racing will start at 6:37 pm local time.