Reinsman Mitch Ford has returned home from a recent stint interstate, and he reunites with his favourite pacer, Iylac Pakaria, in the Group 3 6ty° Bandbox (2200m) in Launceston on Sunday night.
The Bandbox is the three-year-old fillies leg of the Tasbred series, with the daughter of Betting Line chasing back-to-back titles after winning the Evicus in Hobart last season. Ford is looking forward to getting back into the sulky with the filly.
“I’m really looking forward to driving her, and she has come up with a really good draw, and I couldn’t be any happier with her at home,” Ford said.
Iylac Pakaria resumed from a spell when second to Reely Nauti in the opening heat two weeks ago and has since won a trial in Hobart on Monday, where Mitch was in the sulky.
“It wanted to get another run under her belt and to also try something different, she hangs in on the corners, so we tried a bit burr on her, and she steered really good, and we think that is a win.
“She felt really sharp, probably the best she has felt with me,” said the driver about the 2.7m trial win, which was rau in a slow mile rate of 2:06.0s for 2090m.
Ford rates heat winner Reely Nauti as his main danger in the $60,000 race, but he is confident with his filly’s chances.
“With the right run, I think she will be hard to beat,” he said.
Ford is currently in the process of gaining his trainer license, which was one of the main reasons why he wanted to get away and learn from other trainers over the past 11 months.
“I have applied for my trainer’s license, and I’m going to give that a crack.
“I’m just going to buy a couple of cheap ones to poke around with and see what happens from there,” said Ford.
The Bandbox is race eight on Sunday’s 10-race card that also features the Lees Orchard Tassie Golden Apple and Nutrien Equine Supplies Globe Derby Final, both at Group 3 level, the $20,000 Bevan Lee’s Butchery Golden Girls, the $20,000 Faithful Park Stud Golden Slipper and four heats of the 6ty° Youngbloods Challenge.
Matt Reid and Adrian Collins will host TasracingTV, with the first race set down for 17:10.
