TWO early scratchings of top chances from the colts and geldings final of the Big Park Stud Sweepstakes has most likely handed the $20,000 final to the Rod Ashwood-trained Lickyalips that scored an impressive win in his heat at Tattersall’s Park last Sunday night.
The other heat winner Palmisano and the highly promising Laconic Jamane were both scratched last Friday which has definitely deprived the race of a lot of interest in terms of a betting proposition.
Lickyalips was probably going to start favourite irrespective of the opposition, given he will start from the coveted pole position.
But with the other two well-fancied runners to stay at home in their respective stables the Rod Ashwood-trained youngster will most likely start at prohibitive odds.
Rykov Leis and Another Jasper filled the minor placings behind Lickyalips in the Sweepstakes heat and Rykov, prepared by Barrie Rattray, made a race of it over the concluding stages going down by only 2-1/2 metres, while The Dick Eaves-trained Another Jasper was doing his best work at the business end of proceedings but was over six metres astern of the winner.
On the downside, Rykov Leis and Another jasper are drawn out wide on the second line in barriers 12 and 13 respectively.
Palmisano clocked a better mile rate in winning his heat in 1.58.6 so the one that ran second Pachacuti (Barrie Rattray) must be considered an each-way hope despite drawing the second row (10).
The fillies final looks a match in three in heat winners Carly Seelster and Fourstarzzzgirl along with the consistent Really Fay Fay and to a lesser extend Posh Art.
Carly Seelster has faced the starter only three times for a debut fifth followed by two very impressive wins.
Her effort to win in Launceston at her second outing was outstanding when she faced the breeze but made light of the task and last week she left her rivals in her wake in the home straight when an easy heat winner.
Fourstarzzzgirl won her heat by leading throughout but tonight she must face a second row draw but she does have the services of Ricky Duggan to overcome the horror draw.
Really Fay Fay has drawn gate three and looks the likely leader and if trainer-driver Justin Campbell can sneak an easy quarter or two she looms as a definite winning chance.
Posh Art was third in her heat with no luck in running and prior to that effort she won on debut and followed up with a creditable fourth.
The colts and geldings final is race five at 6.52pm with the fillies final scheduled 30 minutes later.