KEY POINTS:
A lot has gone right for John Sargent lately and he needs that luck to continue for Il Quello Veloce in tomorrow's $120,000 Robin, Duke Of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes.
For all his good fortune, Sargent knows the flip side of that coin with Il Quello Veloce.
The filly probably should have won the $1 million Karaka Million at Ellerslie, being flattened twice in the run home and finishing only 2.75 lengths from winner Vincent Mangano with rider Noel Harris out the side of the saddle inside the final 200m.
Against her own sex and on her home track, Il Quello Veloce needs only better luck in running to gain a compensatory victory.
Raid looked likely to win the Karaka Million when she poked through along the rails to challenge at the 220m and was beaten only a long neck and a nose.
She is a tough, improving filly and from another decent barrier draw she should get the run of the race again behind the leaders.
Lady Alberton was not eligible for the Karaka Million and her form in stakes races through the carnivals has been superb.
Her victory over the likes of San Bernardino at Ellerslie on January 1 was particularly game. She got to the lead on the home bend and defied them for the last 400m.
Local trainer Mark Walker has a strong three-way challenge with Bankside Belle, Amazing Sky and Te Akau Coup.
On the basis that Opie Bosson would have had his pick of the three rides, Bankside Belle will be a popular choice with multiple punters. She scored only narrowly on debut at Rotorua, but showed plenty of grit after leading. At Avondale at her only subsequent start, she was run down by the smart Gigino.
