THIS Wednesday night's Harness Trading Ring Pace (1,730 metres) at Bathurst Paceway will be the moment several trainers hope their horses can notch up their first win, and one of those runners primed to do so is Waynes Choice.
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The John O'Shea-trained and Amy Rees-driven colt has been a little unlucky over his three career starts to date and will be chasing a smoother path through the field as he makes another start from the back row.
The upcoming race features three debutants - Thunderboltshannon and Shannons Shadow (both trained by Peter Bullock) and Blackberry Rose - the former of which Rees will be starting behind.
"On paper his form doesn't read great but he's had the worst luck in his last two runs where he was knocked out both times. In his first start at Bathurst he finished right up on their backs and didn't have a run, so with the right run he's definitely as good as anyone of them in it," Rees said of her runner.
"There's a few first starters so anything can happen. The only one of those I've looked at is the two, because I'm following it out. It doesn't seem to have a huge amount of gate speed, going by the trials, so that looks like it will be our only major issue."
O'Shea has Justa Wee Needy going off from gate four, aiming to build off a mixed debut at Dubbo where he finished third.
"He didn't go too bad. Half the field kind of fell over, so that probably helped. He pulled really bad though," Rees said.
"He's never touched touched the bit. He's been really lazy and JT couldn't hold him. It'll be interesting to see what he's like off the front row in that field. I have no idea what he'll do, to be honest."
Waynes Choice looks to be one of the stronger hopes among Rees' four drives across the meeting.
She also has drives on Lavros Midas Touch, Glamour Fox (both trained by Ashlee Grives) and Bandsix (Stephen Conroy).
"Ash's first one [Lavros Midas Touch] has drawn a bit wide in that field and her filly [Glamour Fox] is touch and go. She can put in a really good run then come back the next week and hang. She's a little unreliable because she's still so green," Rees said.
"Last time I drove Bandsix two starts ago it got home quite well and felt like it just needed another run under its belt, which it's had since then. Depending on where it ends up it has the chance to cause an upset."