KEY POINTS:
Three-year-old filly Natal Franco is ready to take on her older rivals at Wyndham tomorrow, says driver Brent Barclay.
In fact, Barclay thinks it will be easier than racing her own age group.
Barclay drives Natal Franco in race nine, in which she will start from No 1, having being scratched from an assignment earlier in the day against her own age group.
While three-year-old fillies don't often beat older opponents this early in the season, Barclay believed Natal Franco was up to the task.
"I think she is better placed in this race than against her own age group," he said. "She could have started against them from a wide draw and with plenty of speed inside her she could have had a very hard race. "But from the ace in race nine I think she should be the horse to beat."
Natal Franco finished fourth from a wide draw in a Sires' Stakes Fillies heat at Forbury Park two weeks ago, but Barclay was far from disappointed by her effort.
"She felt good on the home turn but just hit a flat spot at the same time that the three on the [inside] markers got away from her.
"But she fought on well and these days she has developed some gate speed, which will be handy tomorrow."
Safely through tomorrow's race, the classy filly will head to Addington in Christchurch on November 23 for another Sires' Stakes heat, after which she is likely to return to Alexandra Park in Auckland for December racing.
While Barclay rated Natal Franco his best chance tomorrow he also warned punters to watch out for Slick Sylvestor in the last race.
The four-year-old created a big impression winning two of his three starts last season before suffering a setback. "He got crook but has recovered well enough and he worked well the other day.
"If he races up to his best I think he will be too good for most of them."
Barclay also rated another drive, Sand Express, an each way chance in the day's feature pace (race eight), in which Startling Easton will be the one to beat.
- NZPA
