KEY POINTS:
Second in a four-horse trial hardly sounds like a confidence booster leading into a group one race but trainer Gareth Dixon says it is just what he needed.
Dixon, on a big-race high this season, had been cautious about the chances of his wonderful filly Lizzie Maguire heading into tomorrow's $150,000 Nevele R Fillies Final at Addington.
Until Tuesday.
Dixon was worried after he had not been able to find a suitable lead-up race as Lizzie Maguire is always better after a hard race.
So when he took the Harness Jewels and Pascoes Northern Oaks winner to the Addington trials on Tuesday he wanted her to prove she was ready for the rigours of group one racing. He left a happy man.
"She only ran second but it was to Nearea Franco, who is a good mare herself, and we could have beaten her," said Dixon.
"There was only four horses in there but they were all good ones [Ebony Gem and Letitia Franco were the others] and Lizzie went up to win at the 100m mark and then eased up because she was going so well.
"After that I am very happy with where she is going into Saturday.
"Sure, she might be better with the race under her belt, but she is close enough to her peak to win."
Dixon says even though Lizzie Maguire improves with racing and has drawn wide while second favourite Lady Dancer will start from the ace, he expects driver Peter Ferguson to drive her like she is the best filly in the race.
"That's because I think she is the best filly in the race," he said resolutely.
The 1950m event will be a sterner test than most Lizzie Maguire has faced this season as there is plenty of fast beginners drawn inside her and Lady Dancer looks set to get a perfect trip.
She is unbeaten in three starts and while she faces a huge step up in class, she has looked a potential topliner in her short career.
Auckland filly Eyecatcher Courage is one of many in the race who will need luck after drawing the second line - but she has always looked a better chaser than leader and could be suited by a hot pace.
While the Fillies Final would be the highlight of most racing programmes tomorrow, it might take a back seat to a fantastic Sales Series Pace for the juveniles.
The $220,000 event has drawn most of the best freshmen pacers in the country, including Antares, who Dixon rates the best juvenile he has trained.
Like many of the favourites he faces a second line draw but Dixon says that could actually help him in a race expected to be run at a reasonable pace.
"If he was the only one of the top chances in the race drawn back there I'd think we were in trouble," admitted Dixon yesterday.
"But with a whole heap of us back there they will have to get moving at some stage.
"My fella is working well and has improved every day since he got down here so if he gets the right drag into the race he can still win.
"But it will still be a tough race because it is a great field."
The open nature of this field was reflected when perennial TAB hotshot Sir Clive opened at $3.50 for the race when he usually pays around $1.20.
He faces the worst possible barrier on the inside of the second line in a race where Stunin Cullen, Highview Tommy and Tintin in America are other chances.
Meanwhile, Dixon says his other starter tomorrow, Ebony Gem (R11), could need his outing.
"He is well but has a wide draw and will probably settle back so I think he will need luck."
CASH CHASE
* Many of the best young pacers in the country chase huge money at a rare Addington day meeting tomorrow.
* Training rivals Gareth Dixon and Mark Purdon have leading chances in both the Fillies Final and Sales Series Pace.
* Dixon says stable star Lizzie Maguire can win her third feature race of this campaign.
