Reputations and near perfect records will count for little on Saturday night. Albion Park will host one of the strongest harness racing programs this weekend with five features highlighting the meeting.
The Gr.1 $150,000 Nursery Pace Finals will headline the card but the support features will also grab plenty of attention including the Gr.3 $30,000 Seymour Charity Cup, the Gr.3 $30,000Governors Cup and the inaugural running of the Listed $25,000 Flashing Red.
Trainers Shannon Price and Scott Miller will send out their stable stars Caesars Folly and Franco Turnaround in two of the big features and the couple are hopeful that both pacers will maintain their imposing records.
Caesars Folly will line up in the Kevin Seymour Nursery Pace Final for colts and geldings after tasting defeat for the first time on Monday afternoon when beaten by fellow Queenslander General Bronski whilst Franco Turnaround will take his place in the Seymour Charity Cup Final after winning his heat last Saturday night.
Both pacers face massive tasks.
Caesars Folly will start from gate five with several good beginners drawn on his immediate inside thus leaving connections withfew options whilst Franco Turnaround will also start from the same post position.
Franco Turnaround; facing his toughest - challenge yet in his short but impressive career to date
"Both draws make it tricky, make no mistake about that" Shannon Price stated.
"I think we have little option but to go back with Caesars Folly whilst Franco Turnaround will be pushing forward again because he is good staying type who appreciates being up on the speed" Price added.
Caesars Folly was surprisingly beaten in his heat on Monday when stepping up in distance for the first time after three straight mile victories.
"The distance is not a problem, he was driven too tough on Monday, come Saturday night he will be driven using his best weapon which is his speed" Price said.
"He has come along way in a short space of time, it looks like we're going into this race as the forgotten horse and that suits me fine - he can still win this race" Price added.
Giant gelding Franco Turnaround faces a stiff challenge where he is opposed to rising star Passion N Glory despite have the barrier draw advantage.
"This is a hot field and a big test for him, there is no point going back for two obvious reasons; he's best suited up on the speed and you don't want to give away your advantage to Passion N Glory" Price declared.
"Passion N Glory is clearly the horse to beat, he ran the fastest time last week in the heats and he is obviously going to strip fitter plus he appears to have the prefect game going right now with his speed" Price added.
Franco Turnaround has also come along way in a short space of time and is giving away plenty of experience to his more seasoned rivals in Saturday night's final.
"He's only had eleven starts and he is yet to miss the board to date including eight victories, his future looks very bright as he is still learning his racing craft" Price explained.
"If he races well again this weekend, we will look at some of the better age classic races for him coming up" Price added.
Lola Weidemann will drive both pacers on Saturday night.
Weidemann is no stranger to success in the Kevin Seymour Nursery Pace Final after winning the 2007 version aboard Misty Plains who was trained by her sister Julie.
"I think we have little option but to go back with Caesars Folly whilst Franco Turnaround will be pushing forward again because he is good staying type who appreciates being up on the speed" Price added.
Caesars Folly was surprisingly beaten in his heat on Monday when stepping up in distance for the first time after three straight mile victories.
"The distance is not a problem, he was driven too tough on Monday, come Saturday night he will be driven using his best weapon which is his speed" Price said.
"He has come along way in a short space of time, it looks like we're going into this race as the forgotten horse and that suits me fine - he can still win this race" Price added.
Giant gelding Franco Turnaround faces a stiff challenge where he is opposed to rising star Passion N Glory despite have the barrier draw advantage.
"This is a hot field and a big test for him, there is no point going back for two obvious reasons; he's best suited up on the speed and you don't want to give away your advantage to Passion N Glory" Price declared.
"Passion N Glory is clearly the horse to beat, he ran the fastest time last week in the heats and he is obviously going to strip fitter plus he appears to have the prefect game going right now with his speed" Price added.
Franco Turnaround has also come along way in a short space of time and is giving away plenty of experience to his more seasoned rivals in Saturday night's final.
"He's only had eleven starts and he is yet to miss the board to date including eight victories, his future looks very bright as he is still learning his racing craft" Price explained.
"If he races well again this weekend, we will look at some of the better age classic races for him coming up" Price added.
Lola Weidemann will drive both pacers on Saturday night.
Weidemann is no stranger to success in the Kevin Seymour Nursery Pace Final after winning the 2007 version aboard Misty Plains who was trained by her sister Julie.
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