Alan Clark chuckles at the suggestion his trotter, The Fiery Ginga, deserves a group 1 win when he lines up in the $A200,000 ($NZ247,000) Glenferrie Farms Challenge at Menangle on Sunday.
''There is no 'deserve' in this,'' Clark said from Sydney yesterday.
''Either you're good enough or you're not. But I think he's at the top of his game, and you won't die wondering.''
Clark and the horse arrived in Sydney earlier this week and, since he booked the trip, so many things have fallen the Mosgiel trainer's way.
Not only did I Can Doosit's campaign end prematurely as he heads back to New Zealand for an operation, but the draw gods smiled kindly on Clark. The Fiery Ginga was assigned the No 1 barrier in the speed test over the mile.
Most importantly, the draw gives Clark options as he has fast starter I Didn't Do It immediately on his outside as the mobile barrier pulls away.
''There's going to be a lot of speed into that first corner, because I Didn't Do It is going to be heading for the front as well,'' Clark said.
''They'll run that first quarter in 27 seconds and I'll go hard that first 400m just to make sure the ones out wide have to go back. Having said that, we raced [I Didn't Do It] into the first bend at the Interdominions last year and it broke up so they'll have that on their mind probably.''
If Clark chooses not to lead, he will be selective in who he takes cover from.
''I would hand up to the right horse, provided I thought they were going to keep the speed on. I don't want them backing off.''
''Over a mile on that track, they don't seem to come from the back. Everything's going to have to make a move to get up handy at some stage. You don't want to make it easy for them, you want to keep the pressure on.''
The horse arrived at Paul Fitzpatrick's property on Wednesday and Clark said the gelding handled the trip like a true professional.
''He was jumping out of his skin,'' he said.
''His heart rate's great [and] his recovery's great, so I think he might be spot on for Sunday.''
Whether The Fiery Ginga deserves a group 1 or not, he does have four group 1 placings to his name.
The absence of I Can Doosit and Dr Hook and the slow return from injury of Australia's best trotter, Let Me Thru, gives Clark one of the best chances to break his gallant trotter's group 1 duck.
Stig's wide draw of 7 means he will have to work into the race during the latter stages, while My Escapee's barrier manners and subsequent placement on the unruly gives her a disadvantage straight away.
Bedtime disqualifiedBedtime, driven by Adam White, was disqualified from first place in the amateur drivers' race at Addington last night.
White, driving Bedtime in the 2600m mobile, was drawn to start from the inside draw on the second line, but after J C Skipper, who was drawn on his immediate outside, was slightly slow scoring up behind the mobile, White was deemed to have shifted Bedtime out and taken J C Skipper's spot.
The Arden Lodge-bred gelding Arden's Attack, who finished second, was promoted to first. J C Skipper finished fourth, but was promoted to third after Bedtime's disqualification.
