Born to Boogie up against it to maintain unbeaten record

Born To Boogie and driver Brent Barclay must overcome a wide draw to keep their unbeaten record...
Born To Boogie and driver Brent Barclay must overcome a wide draw to keep their unbeaten record intact at Forbury Park tonight. PHOTO: WILD RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Born To Boogie faces a tough test to remain unbeaten when she lines up at Forbury Park tonight.

The Brett Gray-trained 3yr-old has looked a quality mare in the making by winning her first two starts in Southland.

Unlike in those wins, the pacer is going to have to rough it with some hardy campaigners to keep her unbeaten record intact.

And what makes her task even tougher is that driver Brent Barclay will have to negotiate a path for the filly from a tricky outside-of-the-front-line draw in race 9.

The scenario has Gray approaching tonight's race with a cautious attitude.

"She goes all right, she is not bad, but it is going to be a big step up. She was just a maidener and then five days later she won the nugget final," he said.

"She has got a tough draw so she is no good thing, but she does go pretty nice."

Gray does not expect Barclay to try to negate his filly's wide draw by blasting her out of the gate at high speed.

"From that draw - and she is pretty inexperienced - she is not going to be blasting out, I wouldn't think."

"She has got a good wee turn of foot if saved up. She showed that last time, and we don't want to be too hard on her."

The trainer has two handy back-up chances in the event in Dianne Lorena and Elva Jaccka, who have both won at Forbury Park recently.

Elva Jaccka gets a perfect draw in barrier 2 to get to a favourable on-speed position.

"She can do a bit of work. She has won a couple of races in front, so I wouldn't be surprised if she was running along a bit setting the pace."

Gray's evening will be over quickly, with his six horses lining up in just three consecutive races.

He looks to have a strong hand in race 7 with Bettor B Ready and Loma Jaccka, who meet an even field.

"They have both a good turn of speed if they get the right trip, so they are good each-way chances."

Also Jaccka, his lone runner in race 8, has not impressed in her two start career and will need to improve to figure in the finish of tonight's race.

Tonight's 10-race card includes the third and fourth heats of the Forbury Park junior drivers' series.

Mark Hurrell looks a driver to follow - he steers good winning chances Pete's Dash (race 4) and Whatasista (race 6).

Machie Mach looks tough to beat in race 10, the third heat of the Forbury claimers' series.

The horse impressed when easily winning heat 2 in his first start for Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight.

He downed placegetters Real Dash and Four Starzzz Shiraz and meets that pair again tonight.

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