By Adam Hamilton
Bettor Twist’s first big Aussie moment has arrived.
After two fantastic runs in defeat, the Kiwi starlet has the draw to beat Australia’s champion filly Ladies In Red in a semi-final of the Breeders Crown at Melton on Saturday night.
It’s part of a massive night for Nathan Purdon, who also has Amazing Dream, American Dealer, A Bettor You and Amore Vita in action.
But Bettor Twist’s first clash with Ladies In Red, who boasts 13 wins from her 15 starts, shapes as the highlight of the great night.
Even Ladies In Red’s driver David Moran concedes “we’re really up against it” given the barriers with Bettor Twist in gate five and Ladies In Red (gate nine) on the back row.
“I can’t see many ways we can beat her this week,” Moran conceded. “She’s got such a big advantage at the draws. Anthony (Butt, driver) will look for the front, but even if he doesn’t find it, he can control it from outside the leader and make it hard for me from back in the field.
“I’m a huge fan of Bettor Twist. I’ve seen plenty of her having driven Beach Music to beat her at the past couple, but you could see how much the Kiwi improved from her first run to the second.
“For her to get so close to beating me (Beach Music) last time was enormous by her. If she’s improved again, we’re all in trouble.”
Unfortunately for Purdon, his glamour pair of two-year-old fillies clash in their semi-final with A Bettor You drawn gate two with Anthony Butt aboard and Amore Vita next door (gate three) and Chris Alford to drive.
“I’d lean slightly to Amore Vita. I’ve really come to like her and think in 12 months time she could have some real X-factor about her,” Purdon said.
“That said, A Bettor You will improve a lot of her heat run. I wanted to run her nine days before that heat, but the race didn’t stand up.”
American Dealer gets his chance from a front row draw after catching the eye late when third in his Crown heat at Bendigo last Friday night.
What happens early will be important with Mick Stanley’s stablemates Drain The Swamp (three) and Rock N Roll Doo (four) drawn inside American Dealer (five). The other key runners are Major Moth (nine) and Yambukian (seven).
Purdon views the race as a defining one for American Dealer.
“Ants said the heat was a bit of a nothing race because they only sprinted home the last bit, but he was happy enough with him,” he said.
“I think he’s pretty much as well as we can have him going into this week.
“I think it’ll show whether he’s up to them or not. Queensland was probably a bit easier than here when you throw in Emma and Clayton’s horses.”
We have to wait until the last 11 races on Saturday night’s stellar card to see Amazing Dream in action again.
She looked awesome winning the Group 1 Queen of the Pacific against the mares last time and is against her own sex again in the $30,000 Group 3 Breeders Crown Graduate Mares’ free-for-all.
But it’s only 1720m and never easy from the back row (gate 10).
Against that, the preferential draw conditions put Amazing Dream’s major rivals like Maajida (11) and The Panthiest (eight). The upset runner could be Techys Angel from the front (gate six).
“This is modern-day racing for you. If something finds the pegs and really runs it’ll make it hard from where she’s drawn,” he said.
“If they slow-up at all and she can get around to the breeze, then we’d like to do that, but we may have to come with one run.
“However it plays out, I think she’ll run top two, but it won’t be easy for her.”
