The Albury Harness Racing Club will host its highest quality meet of the year on Saturday night.
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The Carnival of Cups will feature the Pacers Cup, over 2555m, and the 1770m Ian Bruce Memorial String of Pearls.
“The New Years Eve meet attracts the largest crowd, but as far as class of horses, this is our biggest meeting,” club president Sue van de Ven said.
The nine-race program boasts total prizemoney of $82,110, with the Pacers Cup worth just under $15,000.
Albury trainer Helen Scott has three runners in the race, including last-start winner Grinning Punter.
Grinning Punter won at home last Saturday from stable-mate Magicnracing, claiming the fifth win from 24 starts,
Amanda Von is Scott’s other entry.
Meanwhile, Jindera trainer Lyn Hancock has two runners for the meet.
Boundtobemad is coming off a runner-up finish last Saturday, and Hancock made it clear what she expects.
“A win,” she laughed.
Hancock is also hoping a long spell won’t count against her other runner.
“Jay Dee Zed is coming back from nearly a two-year spell,” she said.
“He was doing a few things wrong his last couple of starts, he was breaking and galloping.
“But he’s trialled alright, and did everything right.”
Jay Dee Zed will tackle another Border runner in Sammysluck in race five over 2170m.
“I think if they go fast early, he should be able to finish off over the top of them,” trainer Chris Chant said.
“He’s won two of his last four (races) and he hasn’t missed a place in his last five.”
The seven-year-old boasts a strong record, with 13 wins and 25 placings from around 90 starts.
“He’s probably getting better with age, his last two seasons he’s won the majority of his races,” Chant said.
“Usually he leads from the front, but this time he’ll have to take the sit, and go back a little bit at the start.”
Chant has been forced to scratch his two other runners.
“With Ruby Red Sox, she has a bad tendon, she has a lump in her tendon,” he said.
“She won last week but she’s pulled up sore after that run.”
Ruby Red Sox is expected to miss a fortnight.
“And with The Revenue Raiser, he’s a bit raw and doesn’t get around the track,” Chant said.
“He cut his foot real bad the other night and he’s just a bit sore.”
Chant is disappointed he’ll have only the one runner on an important night for the club.
“They’re probably the best fields and best meeting overall for the year, New Year’s Eve is the biggest, but this would be for quality of fields and prizemoney the best,” he said.
The Pacers Cup will be run from 9.17pm, with the first event just before six.
The big meets will continue for the club on March 7 with its Memorial night.