By Jonny Turner
Normal transmission is set to resume at Motukarara on Sunday for Bettor Believe who is among a nice book of drives for Colin DeFilippi.
The pacer trained by DeFilippi and wife Julie goes into race 8 after blotting his exceptional copybook form line when breaking a hopple in his last outing at Addington.
Better Believe had put a string of six placings together prior to that race, mostly on grass tracks.
The five-year-old steps back on to his favourite surface on Sunday and it would take a brave punter to bet against him not at least putting himself in place contention once again.
“He broke a hopple last time and that was the end of that,” Colin DeFilippi said.
“But in saying that he drew the second line and got back a bit too far, so he probably wasn’t going to get any money anyway.”
“But he is off the front on Sunday and if he begins like he normally does then he is a chance.”
“He is probably the best chance of the ones from our stable.”
Bettor Believe it opened at a $3.60 win price and $1.60 win price in fixed odds betting.
DeFilippi rates Aldebaran Floss in race 6 as the best of his winning chances from his drives outside of his own stable.
The Murray Alfeld trained trotter charged home into second in an excellent effort from off the pace in her last start at Addington.
“She should be the hardest to beat from the draw (3),” DeFilippi said.
“She is a nice filly.”
Aldebaran Floss opened at a generous $4.40 fixed odds win price.
Terror Maria also looks a strong eachway chance for DeFilippi in race 7.
The Bob Butt trained mare produced sound form before missing away and then racing wide in her last start at Methven.
“Bob has got a bit of time for her, she has gone some good races, she is a chance.”
Terror Maria has been rated at $9.50 and $2.70 in fixed odds markets.
DeFilippi will jump behind The Artful Dodger in race 3 for the first time since he converted to pacing after previously driving the horse as a trotter.
Two gritty efforts for second in his last two starts make the five-year-old far from the worst proposition.
“He has been going good races and he can do a bit of work, so he wouldn’t be the worst chance,” DeFilippi said.
The Artful Dodger was rated at juicy $21 win odds and $5 place odds on Saturday night.
DeFilippi and wife Julie start both Sweet Heaven and Taumata VC in race 4.
DeFilippi hopes Taumata VC can bounce back to form after disappointing in her last start at Addington.
“She let me down last start.”
“I went to the trials at Ashburton on the Tuesday and she jogged 3.06 (for 2400m), I never pulled the plugs and never turned the stick.”
“I don’t know if that took the edge off her or not but she was disappointing on the Sunday.”
“The second row will make it hard because she is one that needs to be on the pace.
“It will depend on how she gets away.”
“And it is much the same for Sweet Heaven.”
Sweet Heaven was at $10 and $3 and Taumata VC was at $17 and $4.60 in fixed odds betting on Saturday night.
The DeFilippi stable also start Don’t Write Me Off in race 2, who has been rated at fixed odds of $19 and $4.50.
