Trainer Emma Stewart has four runners in the Group 1 Petstock Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Reigning champion Restrepo has drawn perfectly in his quest for a slice of harness racing history in Saturday night’s Ballarat Cup.
One of four Emma Stewart/Clayton Tonkin-trained runners in the Group 1, Restrepo is aiming to become the first title holder to successfully defend his crown.
As it stands, Sinbad Bay is the time-honoured feature’s only dual winner, having scored in 1991 and 1996.
Successful in track record time last season, Restrepo has received barrier one, which has boosted his trainers’ confidence.
“That should prove to be a great draw for him,” Stewart declared. “Hopefully from there he can settle in a prominent position and be ready to strike in the straight like he did last season.”
An eye-catching first-up fourth at Tabcorp Park Menangle a fortnight ago, Restrepo has “trained on well” according to Stewart, who stated the son of Art Major will be a notable improver for the outing.
“We were happy with his run in Sydney and he has trained on well since,” Stewart said. “He will definitely be better for the run, but that said, he will have to be in this field.
“We’ve got no doubt he is capable of becoming the first pacer to win back-to-back Ballarat Cups.”
Despite his ideal draw, Restrepo is on the fourth line of betting with TAB Fixed Odds at $8, with his stablemate, Guaranteed, the favourite at $2.20.
Last weekend’s Cranbourne Cup star, Terror To Love is next at $3, with Philadelphia Man posted at $3.40.
Winner of his last nine starts, including two this campaign, Philadelphia Man is another Stewart/Tonkin representative, with Beauty Secret – one of the outsiders at $51 - rounding out the team.
Philadelphia Man will begin from three, with Guaranteed in four and Beauty Secret in 10.
Terror To Love has another visitors’ draw, gate nine, which is likely to see him pushed through at the start in search of the ‘death seat’.
“Although he is off the back line, Terror To Love is still the one to beat,” Stewart said.
As for a hint on which of the stable’s chances is the ‘most likely’, Stewart offered a diplomatic answer: “with the right run all of them are capable of winning. They’ve all been working well and are right in this.”
At this early stage, even a guide via the drivers is still unavailable, with master reinsman Gavin Lang given first preference.
Interestingly, Lang has driven Restrepo in each of his 41 starts, which has seen the pair register 17 wins, including two at Group 1 level.
Lang has also been the only driver to hold the reins behind the other three on race day this season.
“We haven’t spoken to Gavin yet, so we will wait and see which one he wants to drive before making a decision on the others,” Stewart declared.
(Paul Courts is the Australian harness racing scribe for HarnessLink.com)
