Fox Dan winning his Gold Crown heat. Photo by Coffee Photography
THE number one marble could produce the winner of both juvenile finals at the Bathurst Gold Crown carnival on Saturday with two talented youngsters drawing the coveted inside barrier.
Victorian Fox Dan gets the ace draw in the Gold Crown after impressing with a debut win in the heats while the unbeaten Bittersweet is the clear standout from the pegs in the Gold Tiara after spanking her rivals in her qualifier.
Fox Dan made a big impression in his first outing when he did plenty of work before working forward and eventually drawing away to win his heat by almost 10m.
He raced like he had a bit to learn so the experience will have done him the world of good.
He'll enjoy a much easier passage from this draw and with natural improvement likely could be hard to catch.
Sweet On Lexy draws wide but also came from there in the heats and was ultra impressive, clearing out to cruise home by 22m.
He has shown promise since day one but that last performance suggests he is putting it together at the right time.
My Ultimate Barney made it two from two in the heats when he drew out and raced wide early before working to the front and toughing it out.
He should enjoy a softer run from this draw and had come from this barrier when an easy winner on debut at Penrith.
Sanchez was a beaten favourite when making his debut in the heats but still ran well for second to My Ultimate Barney. He'll be improved by the experience and the better draw brings him into calculations.
Bittersweet was already shaping as a clear standout for the Gold Tiara after a dominant performance in the heats but the addition of the ace draw has her looking close to unstoppable barring any major incidents.
She came into this series as a leading player after easy wins at her first two starts but went to a whole new level in the heats where she zipped across to lead from a wider draw before leaving her rivals standing in the run home.
The margin was huge and the time was slick so with the perfect draw also in play it is tough to find any negatives.
Our Special Memory was the only heat winner to record a time even close to Bittersweet and she looked good in doing it too.
She's from a smart juvenile yard in Russell Jack who won the Tiara with Just Hope three years ago and while drawn a bit wide but she has more improvement to come.
Peace Out's heat win was in a slow time and the margin was only narrow but she started a hot favourite and came from a wide barrier to add merit to the performance.
She draws on the inside of the second row this time and should get a nice trail on the back of Bittersweet. It won't be easy to get past that rival but she can certainly be dragged into the finish.
Kima did a good job to win on debut in the heats and is open to improvement.
NSW Derby winner Soho Spectre will be chasing his second feature win of the campaign in the Gold Chalice Final.
He made it two wins in a row when in cruise control in the heats to follow his Derby win. He'll have to overcome a second row draw this time but is race fit and has touch of class.
War Dan Buddy was given a tough hitout when resuming with a win in the heats so he is sure to have come on from that. He draws wider but has the speed to get across and any improvement will see him tough to stop.
Derby placegetter Minos continues to race well, adding to a string of placings in the heats when drawn wider. He gets every chance from the ace draw.
Nathan Street only got home by a narrow margin in the heats but suspect he'll be improved by that. He was well fancied in the Derby two back but blew his chances with a break. He is a Group 1 winner so with his A-game he has the talent.
Ravishing Sloy controlled his heat from the front so expect him to push forward and be competitive.
Last season's Gold Tiara winner Lux Aeterna can complete the Bathurst double when she lines up in the Gold Bracelet Final.
She did enough to get home as a hot favourite when resuming in the heats and draws on the pegs so should enjoy a trail and a soft run.
With improvement likely second-up class can get her home.
Libby Lou gets the ace draw and from there has the chance to repeat her performance from the heats when she led and kept going to score by 6m. She'll be hitting her peak third up and if she can dictate could be hard to get past.
Eureka Jo chased strongly and got close to Lux Aeterna when resuming in the heats. She is still a maiden but has been placed at G1 level and with progression likely can be in the finish.
Soho Vesper Lind did a good job to win her heat and the low draw can see her competitive again.
To view the Racing and Sports formguide for Bathurst CLICK HERE.
LISTEN: Racing & Sports' Sam Williams is joined by harness racing expert Ken Warren to preview the Bathurst Gold Crown
