By MICHAEL GUERIN
For a man jumping in at the deep end, Les Pettifer looks pretty happy with himself.
The Auckland trainer has launched his first Australian assault, flying to Melbourne yesterday with his exciting filly Pocket Queen.
As if that isn't daunting enough, waiting for them when they get to Moonee Valley
on Saturday night will be champion filly Tupelo Rose.
Pocket Queen has been set for the Australian Oaks and that means another clash with Tupelo Rose and fellow Kiwi filly Dancingonmoonlight Considering Tupelo Rose is rated one of the best fillies ever produced in New Zealand and Dancingonmoonlight has been her regular runner-up, Pettifer could have been excused for staying home with Pocket Queen.
But not only has he made the trip he is confident going into the toughest challenge of his filly's career.
"She is better than she has ever been," said Pettifer as he prepared for the trip.
"Her work last week was amazing. She was simply bolting at the end of her final fast workout.
"I know it is always hard taking on a filly like Tupelo Rose but my filly has earned the right to be there."
She has certainly done that.
Pocket Queen is one of the few fillies to ever beat Tupelo Rose on her merits, outstaying her in the Caduceus Club Ladyship Stakes at Alexandra Park in December.
Since then her form has been mixed, with her tendency to over-race in the field proving costly.
But three starts ago she thrashed most of the north's best pacing mares in the Breeders Stakes.
While Tupelo Rose goes into Saturday night's $A50,000 classic with a rare defeat next to her name - beaten in a moderate 3-year-old race on Saturday night - trainer-driver Ted Demmler was adamant the filly will bounce back in the Oaks.
"She was a victim of circumstances last week, getting pushed back in the middle stages," said Demmler.
"I just want a good draw so I can use her stamina. She will run quarters in 29 seconds and keep going."
Even if Pocket Queen fails to lower Tupelo Rose's colours again this week she could be in for a profitable trip.
She is eligible for the Bendigo Gold Crown series, in which she will meet Dancingonmoonlight but not Tupelo Rose.
* * *
Pick Six punters can finally catch their breath.
After weeks of being bombarded with $250,000 pools by the TAB some sanity will return this week.
Both the Thursday and Friday night pools will only be guaranteed to $50,000 this week.
The $250,000 guaranteed pools have cost the TAB nearly $300,000 in the last month, with the money coming out of the Pick Six reserve fund.
"It was good exercise to boost interest and generate turnover," said TAB spokesman Michael Dore.
"We were hoping to get a big jackpot rolling but unfortunately it kept getting struck.
"But the interest generated has helped increase turnover for the other races at the meetings and that also has a flow-on effect."
The expenditure means the TAB are left with around $200,000 in their Pick Six reserve fund.
"To make the $250,000 pools we had to top the two Alexandra Park pools up by just under $100,000 each time while the Addington one had to be topped up by just over $100,000."
Dore said Pick Six would be allowed to operate under its own steam for rest of winter.
* Fields for Friday night's Cambridge meeting remain open until 10 am today.
By MICHAEL GUERIN
For a man jumping in at the deep end, Les Pettifer looks pretty happy with himself.
The Auckland trainer has launched his first Australian assault, flying to Melbourne yesterday with his exciting filly Pocket Queen.
As if that isn't daunting enough, waiting for them when they get to Moonee Valley
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