The draw might not be ideal but Mark Hewitt has no doubt Jeradas Delight can make his first Red Ochre Mares Classic Final one to remember.
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The experienced trainer-driver will contest the Group 3 feature at Dubbo Harness Racing Club for the first time on Friday night, the $10,000 final headlining a massive eight-race Carnival of Cups meeting.
Jeradas Delight heads into the final having run second to Bernie Hewitt's Royal Story in the heat Bathurst earlier this month.
Royal Story was a $3.50 favourite on Thursday afternoon, while Jeradas Delight sat on the third line of betting at $5.50.
Hewitt will also drive Jeradas Delight from gate four on Friday night and while a lack of gate-speed puts her at a disadvantage early, the Grenfell trainer remains positive.
"With the right run she can be in it," he said.
"She doesn't show much gate-speed and drawing four makes it difficult.
"She's got a lack of gate-speed and there's a lot of gate-speed inside her so who knows (where I end up) ... but with the right run she'll be competitive, for sure."
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While there are some things going against her, Jeradas Delight has shown enough promise this preparation to make her one of the main chances.
In eight starts back after a sixth-month spell, the five-year-old has "done everything right" and has only run worse than second once.
That was a ninth-placed finish at Menangle last month, a night where things "didn't go good".
The following start was far better, as she flew home to almost pip runaway Red Ochre heat winner Royal Story at the post.
"It was probably her best run this time in," Hewitt said of the Bathurst showing.
"She surprised me a bit.
"The leader shot right away and I wasn't thinking about winning then, finishing second was my priority. But she almost ran the leader down."
Hewitt has contested a Red Ochre Mares Classic heat before but never the main event, and the final is the only race he'll be a part of on Friday.
"It's nice to be a part of. It's a good race," he said.
As well as the Red Ochre Mares Classic Final (2120m), Friday will also see the running of the Dubbo Show Society President's Cup (2120m), the Arthur J Gallagher Little Red Jug Final (1720m), the Quamby's Stayers Cup (2525m), and the Club Dubbo Golden Gig Series Final (2120m).
The meeting also runs alongside the Dubbo Show again, ensuring plenty of entertainment for everyone in attendance.
Racing starts at 5pm with the Red Ochre Mares Classic Final at 7.33pm.