PARDON the pun, but you can count on Bomb Suit delivering an explosive performance in the Gold Crown heats this Saturday night.
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If his debut is any indication of how he will go then the Craig Cross-trained gelding will be right among the front runners during the finish of the fourth 1,730 metre heat at the Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway.
His may have missed out as a favourite in his Menangle debut last weekend but the close second placing, in a sub-1:56 mile rate, should be enough to inspire confidence in punters.
That's not to mention the fact he's landed the number one gate this Saturday.
Luke McCarthy, who drove the Art Major x Armainapocket gelding on debut, will again be in the driver's seat.
Cobbity trainer Cross likes the chances of Bomb Suit being able to lead when the green light flashes.
"He led at Menangle the other night when he started from seven," he said.
"He might get crossed but he'll definitely but going forward."
There's some strong company in the fourth crown heat, which shapes up as one of the most open races of the card from a betting perspective.
Victorian entrant Jilliby Nitro won his debut at Bendigo for Terang trainer Margaret Lee, Steve Turnbull's Yianni is looking to improve from his Melton start and Stephen Boyington's colt Frankie was strong on a rain affected debut.
Cross remains confident his entrant can make his way through to the $100,000 feature.
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"He's had the one run so he's got that base fitness and if he doesn't win then he should be running second, based on his work. I'd be disappointed if he didn't qualify," he said.
"He had a good run at Menangle. He was entered the night before at Newcastle but that meeting was called off, so I switched him so he could have a run.
"We train him for Andrew Stuart over in New Zealand and he sent him over about five months ago since he was eligible for the Gold Crown.
"He's a good horse to do anything with. He's a gelding so he's quiet and placid and not a handful."
Bomb Suit is Cross' sole entrant across the crown and tiara.
Winners from the six Gold Crown heats will qualify for the final. The remaining four positions will be filled out by the fastest runners-up.
Racing at the Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway gets underway from 6.18pm with the first of the crown heats starting 6.50pm.
The meeting will feature the Smooth Satin Pacing Cup (2,260m) while the trotters get the opportunity to shine in the Allied Express-Cobbity Equine Trot It Out Trotters Cup (2,790m) and the Gold Coronet (1,730m).