Smooth Baht to start from gate one for Steve Turnbull in Bathurst Gold Crown

Smooth Baht won his heat last Saturday at the Bathurst Gold Crown Paceway by using the sprint lane and, thanks to the inside draw, he could opt for a similar tactic or instead push ahead to take up the running in the final.

That flexibility in race tactics will come in handy considering fellow heat winners Mach Dan (gate five), Pat McGarry (six), Mistery Road (seven) and Jilliby Nitro (eight) will also go off the front row.

Of that group, Emma Stewart's Mach Dan and Margaret Lee's Jilliby Nitro look the most likely to challenge for the lead.

The only heat winner not starting off the front is Shane and Lauren Tritton's Major Bob, who has been forced to start on the outside of back row after galloping.

The draw for Turnbull is a complete turnaround in luck from last year's edition where his hope Smooth Cash had to start from widest on the back row, ultimately finishing sixth.

"With Steve drawing the one it's made it interesting. There's the well-performed Jilliby Nitro going from eight which has opened things up a bit in terms of where they will end up in the run," Bathurst Harness Racing CEO Danny Dwyer said.

"Steve's horse looks to be the type who could take a sit but I wouldn't be surprised to see him take up the running as well. The question is if Mach Dan goes forward does Steve give up the lead and how will Jilliby Nitro be kept early?

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"I'm not sure what Steve's thinking about that situation but I feel like he holds the keys to the race."

Fastest Bathurst Gold Tiara heat qualifier Michelle Lee Mac has landed the number three gate in the final for Kerry McDowell.

"Michelle Lee Mac looks the best filly in the race. She's coming from a race where she handed up the lead and then ducked in behind the leader and was good enough to win," Dwyer said.

"If Michelle Lee Mac can find the front she will be very hard to beat but I'm not sure whether that's her option, based on the last start.

"Happy Crusing has drawn barrier 10 but should be reasonably forward. It was impressive in his heat.

"I've got a preference for the horses that have drawn in the back row that can press forward without doing too much work, as opposed to those that might get caught out wide early."

Heat winners Eye Can Run and Happy Cruusing start on the back row.