KEY POINTS:
Trainer John Howe has some bad news for fans of New Zealand's most improved pacing filly, Suvarno Hanover.
Her apparently perfect draw in tomorrow's $125,000 Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington is not so perfect.
Suvarno Hanover could start second favourite behind northern champion One Dream in the group one event, thanks to a string of impressive recent wins and her ace barrier draw.
But Howe says the ace could be a disaster for his pride and joy.
"I was talking to Terry (Chmiel, driver) about it and I told him he better have a plan because I don't," said Howe.
"She has never really been a gate speed horse so I don't think she can hold the front and she is actually better saved for one run.
"So she could end up back on the markers and I don't fancy being there if horses like One Dream and Top Tempo start circling the field."
Howe, who turned 40 last Saturday, has just 15 horses in work and admits he may need a calming beer before tomorrow's feature.
"I have had horses in races like this before but they have always had no chance. This is pretty serious stuff for us. I think she is good enough to win it if things go her way and some others are unlucky but the draw worries me a little bit."
Suvarno Hanover looked just one of a number of handy fillies starting the summer but has matured at the right time and her last-start Southland Oaks win was that of a genuine group one contender.
But Howe is not getting carried away. "That last win was pretty special but she didn't beat horses like One Dream or Running On Faith.
"So this is our chance to take the step up."
Suvarno Hanover's biggest ally may be Cambridge filly Belletti, who has high gate speed and could hold the lead, at least early, from the middle of the front line.
That raises the possibility of Suvarno Hanover being handy on the inner, rather than pushed back when the other favourites start to move.
Although One Dream had her colours lowered by Running On Faith in the Pascoes Northern Oaks she is still the best pacing filly in the country and the addition of half-blinds could sharpen her up leading into the most lucrative month of the harness-racing season.
She will undoubtedly have to cover extra ground from her wide second-line draw but 1950m races at Addington are often won by those who can stay out of the early rush and get the right cart into the race. That has been the case in most of the rich sprints there this season.
One Dream should still win because she appears stronger than the other fillies but punters may be wary of taking anything as short as the $1.30 she was paying in defeat last start.
Top Tempo is a fine filly whose poor luck with draws continues tomorrow but she was good enough to finish second to Changeover here in the Flying Stakes in March so can test the favourite with any luck.
Running On Faith was courageous in the Oaks and will be so again tomorrow but she may be better suited to the 2600m of the New Zealand Oaks next Friday.
Everlaughing Life and Belletti are trifecta chances while Veecmee is the best roughie.
Fillies Final
* One Dream will be a warm favourite in tomorrow's $125,000 Nevele R Final at Addington.
* But she faces a tricky draw and the in-form Suvarno Hanover.
* Pascoes Northern Oaks winner Running On Faith adds to the strong northern assault on the race.
* The rare daytime meeting also hosts the $200,000 Sales Series Pace.
