Big night beckons for Dawson

With the top three drivers in the metropolitan premiership all competing interstate, Nathan Dawson secures a chance to pick up some valuable ground in the title race.

Pete McMullen currently leads the premiership on 47 wins over Grant Dixon on 29, with Angus Garrard on 27, with McMullen and Dixon driving at Melton and Garrard at Menangle on Saturday.

With Dawson currently on 26 metropolitan victories, his book this week could potentially see him leap-frog Dixon and Garrard into second.

Surpassing 2,000 career wins last week, Dawson is homing in on another 200-win season and will take drives in all eight races on Saturday.

And in those eight drives, there appears to be some standout chances, including two pacers in white-hot form, Wasa Heat Seeker and Chynchilla.

Chynchilla

Wasa Heat Seeker has won all three of his Queensland starts since joining the Mitchell Dawson stable, running strong time and winning dominantly on each occasion.

“He is an exciting horse, it has probably come as a surprise with what he is doing, but he is racing really well and seems to be getting better all the time,” Nathan Dawson said of the five-year-old.

“He is quite a laid-back horse during the run, if nothing is up there near him, he is a little hard to get going.

“Ideally I’d like to be in front and running another big mile.”

Chynchilla has only tasted defeat once in her past seven attempts, when finishing second behind Wasa Heat Seeker, and the four-year-old looks set to claim another open pace for the mares in race four.

“She is an exciting horse, you know, and it is quite enjoyable to drive her,” Dawson said of the Donny Smith trainer mare.

Winning impressively at her last start, the Sunshine Beach mare blew her opposition off the track with a 1.51.1 mile, pulling clear to win by over 16 metres.

“Hopefully we get a good trip again Saturday night and she can do the same again.”

Eight races will be decided on Saturday night, with race one scheduled for 6.17pm, with the last at 10.00pm.

BEST BETS

Chris Barsby- R2 N7 BRAEDOS LAD: “Off what he delivered last week, if he can settle a little bit more, I think Braedos Lad can take this race. Dropping back to the Band4/Band2 after setting up that speed last week and then being overpowered by the best pacer going around in Leap To Fame, this looks a suitable assignment.”

Darren Clayton- R8 N3 COVER GIRL: “Barriers have been against this mare since resuming from a spell. Gaining an improved gate last start, she was then forced to work hard in the run outside the leader. The 2138 metre trip should be ideal, and she can finally grab a win in this qualifying grade.”