Eleven pacers have their eyes on the winning the Harness Racing NSW Rewards Series final, with the Bathurst Paceway to host the $10,000 race on Wednesday night.
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Steve Turnbull-trained Big Heart is the early race favourite, at $2.75, but Nathan Hurst’s Call Me Missy is in the mix, backed at $3 in the 2260 metre race.
Call Me Missy has drawn barrier nine, in the second row behind barrier one, a draw that Hurst described as “awkward”.
“It’s a bit of an awkward draw, so she’ll need a bit of luck if she wants to get the win,” he said.
“It’s over a longer trip, which’ll probably help her.
“She ran really well last week.”
Call Me Missy’s last start was a win at Bathurst on October 3, in the Rewards Series heat, finishing just over two metres ahead of Wendy Turnbull’s Lucky Nutter.
Hurst said his four-year-old bay mare is running well, after overcoming previous issues.
“She’s had a few issues at the start of the barrier, but she’s seemed to have got over that and is doing really well now,” he said.
“My wife Angela drives her and she’s done all the work with her this time round.”
The Rewards Series has been designed for four-year-old or older assessed C0 horses that have not won a career penalty event.
Call Me Missy isn’t the only starter Hurst has, with Tulhurst Terror ($21) to run from barrier eight and Tulhurst Lover ($26) starting from barrier 11.
David McKenzie will be in the gig for Tulhurst Terror, while Hurst has the drive for Tulhurst Lover.
Tulhurst Terror has only snagged one win in his career that has spanned 35 starts, but has picked up 11 seconds and 11 thirds.
“He’s a pretty honest fella and always runs the same race,” Hurst said on his four-year-old gelding.
“His record probably doesn’t look great, but he’s paid his way.
“He only needs to get a little bit better and turn those places into wins.
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly, at the wide barrier, but he should run well.”
Bernie Hewitt will be driving Im Ok ($13) in the series final and will be hoping that his four-year-old brown gelding will race better than just okay.
“He’s a place chance in that race,” Hewitt said.
“My guy is a honest little guy without much high level speed.
“With the good draw, he’s a place chance but I’m not over confident with his winning chances.”
There’s also a Evolution Series heat on Wednesday night, the final race of the meeting, with only six starters in the race.
Chris Frisby’s Our Uncle Jim is a strong favourite for the 1730 metre race.
It will be an eight race meeting at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night, with the first race commencing at 6.07pm.
The Reward Series final will start at 6.39pm, the last race of the evening starting at 9.50pm.
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