Written on Friday, 19 August 2011 09:25
(Andrew Bensley is a leading commentator on Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)
Well, the spring carnivals may be getting underway in Sydney and Melbourne but also there's great interest in the Grand Final meeting of the Australasian Breeders Crown at Tabcorp Park Melton on Sunday.
Harness racing has been crying out for a new star to be unearthed and the three-year-old Sushi Sushi is on track to be the new sensation.
Sushi Sushi, trained at Sunbury by Freddy Taiba, has won his past 12 races in succession, including three Group Ones this season.Sushi Sushi first savoured glory in the Victoria Derby before travelling to New Zealand to win the Great Northern Derby.
Sushi Sushi's most recent defeat was in the Breeders Crown Final for two-year-olds last season and he'll have to put in a first-rate performance to atone for that loss this Sunday.
Sushi Sushi has drawn the inside of the back line for the 3YO Colts & Geldings Final on Sunday and the tactics in the race will be crucial.
Caesars Folly is drawn to lead from gate one but may hand up to Royal Verdict, which would push Sushi Sushi three-back the pegs.
Sushi Sushi's driver Greg Sugars told me on Sky Sports Radio he's well aware Sunday's race will be the toughest test to date for his horse.
In other major highlights for Melton on Sunday, the four-year-old clash of Lanercost, David Hercules and New Zealander Franco Jamar should be a beauty.
Franco Jamar can either lead from gate one or, if he takes a sit, can use his great turn of foot to outsprint his rivals at the finish.
In the 2YO Colts & Geldings Final, Soho Valencia and Waldenburg are the two in race six while in the fillies final, Greg Sugars believes La Machane can push raging favourite Cowgirls N Indians.
Harness Racing Victoria has built the Breeders Crown series into one of the code's biggest events, with $2.4million dollars in prizemoney over the series.
(SKY Racing 1 will have all of the race coverage on Sunday while SKY Racing2 will have extensive coverage with interviews and racing.)
*****
NOW to the thoroughbred action and I'm hoping the weather doesn't have too much of an impact for the Warwick Farm meeting.
While the Warwick Stakes is the feature race, the Up And Coming Stakes for three-year-olds is a cracker.
Scone trainer Paul Messara admits he was surprised with the debut win of Rekindled Alliance saying the horse certainly will be better over a mile and beyond.
The one thing Messara is keen on with Rekindled Alliance is the acceleration he displays.
Messara added the track work of Rekindled Alliance normally wasn't flash because and he saves his best for race day.
*****
PAT and Wayne Webster report Thankgodyourehere is a happy horse going into his first-up run in the Show County.
While the Websters and regular jockey Rod Quinn feel Thangodyourehere doesn't really handle the wet, his record is opposite.
The other plus according to Pat Webster is the horse's performances when fresh.
*****
FINALLY at Saturday's Belmont meeting in Perth the return of classy four-year-old Playing God may be a highlight.
Trainer Neville Parnham said, on face value, the horse's trial on Monday was a bit disappointing.
Playing God missed the start by two lengths and ended up finishing last.
The leading trainer, however, suggests Playing God's trackwork had been very good prior to the trial and hopes he can produce first-up in the Goodwood over 1300 metres on Saturday.
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Sushi Sushi a raw talent

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