Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The Amber Hare has enjoyed very little luck in running in five starts since her impressive victory over Three Rumours three months ago, and her trainer-driver Jocelyn Young is hoping for a change of fortune when the stylish five-year-old contests the $30,000 TABtouch Summer Feature Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Amber Hare will start from the No. 5 barrier in the 2130m event, with her most serious rival Nevermindthechaos drawn at No. 6. The Amber Hare reappeared after a seven-week absence when she raced in the one-out, one-back position but was badly hampered for room until late —when she finished strongly into third place behind Bettor Get it On and Vivere Damore.
She was blocked for a run when unplaced at two of her three previous outings, and in between those runs she raced three wide in the middle stages and took the lead 600m from home before finishing fifth behind Himself in the Group 1 Golden Nugget on December 16.
“She probably needed the run last week, and she should improve on that effort,” said Young. “I have no set plan from barrier five but I’d say I’ll probably have to go forward and hope she is somewhere near the top of her game.
“She’s got speed but is probably more of a rolling type. She has got high rolling speed, rather than point-to-point speed.”
There is a strong chance that Young will be anxious to stay in front of Nevermindthechaos, who has created a wonderful impression in winning at ten of her 26 starts. The Michael Young-trained Nevermindthechaos notched a hat-trick of Gloucester Park wins before she finished sixth behind Bettor Get It On in a Group 3 1730m event last Friday night.
There were excuses for that unplaced performance. Nevermindthechaos started from the outside of the back line, started a three-wide burst 1050m from home but was inconvenienced at the 600m when she raced roughly for a couple of strides and lost valuable momentum. She also received a self-inflicted cut to the inside of her fore cannon bone.
Young trainer-reinsman Corey Peterson is confident of a strong showing from Nullarbor Navajo, who is favourably drawn at barrier No. 2. The six-year-old is a newcomer to the Peterson stable and has had three starts for her new trainer for fast-finishing seconds to Beyond The Sea and Nevermindthechaos before her sound fifth behind Bettor Get it On last Friday night.
“This will be a chance to see how she performs against the better mares,” said Peterson. “She’s definitely one to follow, and she’ll be winning races — and it looks like that Friday will be a chance.
“I’m not sure about her gate speed, but we will definitely be finding out on Friday. And if we get to the top we will be holding it. She is versatile, has got speed and she can do it tough.”