Talent and natural improvement can combine to propel the team from Macca Lodge into the winner’s circle at Ascot Park tomorrow.
Trainer Brent McIntyre and stable foreman Carl Hanna will line up Hazel Grace and Delphyne after the pair produced nice fresh-up efforts at Winton a fortnight ago.
Hazel Grace stepped up sharply from running steady times in her trials and workouts to produce a late-closing second in her debut.
All signs point to the filly going one closer for driver Nathan Williamson tomorrow.
‘‘She has got a nice future,’’ Hanna said.
‘‘She is a typical 2-year-old. She is learning all the time.
‘‘We never really asked her for too much in any of her trials and workouts.
‘‘She was a little bit lost in that first start but once she got going she ran on quite nice. ‘‘She will have learnt a lot from that run, so hopefully from her good draw [3] Nathan should have a few options.’’
Williamson will also take the reins behind Delphyne, who steps out in the Gold Chip Final.
In her first run since December, the 3-year-old ran on into third placing behind Bullit Train and Our Evie Rae at Winton.
That looks strong form to take to her Ascot Park assignment.
‘‘We were really pleased with her effort. She qualified from a stand early on but that was her first go at the races and she did everything right,’’ Hanna said.
‘‘They went a good time and she was hitting the line nicely, so it was a good run.
‘‘She will be better for having that run, so hopefully she will go another nice race.’’
Though she mastered her first standing start, Delphyne is still a standing-start rookie compared to most of her opponents.
‘‘It is only her second standing start and she’s got to get around the smaller track over a shorter distance.
‘‘There are a few wee things she will have to contend with.’’
Hanna will line up stable newcomer Moonlight Angel in his own name. The mare does not quite bring the same kind of form Delphyne brings to the Gold Chip Final.
‘‘I am happy with her, but she hasn’t got a very good record and she hasn’t had a race for a while.
‘‘We picked her up off Gavel-house as a bit of a project. We will know a lot more after Sunday.’’
Delphyne and Hazel Grace are among Nathan Williamson’s strong book of drives on Sunday.
Utah Jazz and Treacherous Me look two of his biggest winning threats on the back of their big last-start victories.
