3 minute read
The lengthy and lucrative regional association between prolific industry breeder and owner Gerry Harvey and Scone veteran Stephen Jones is compelling value with dual winnner Andorra La Vella in Saturday’s Vale Chris Kearns TAB $100,000 Highway, Class 3, 1500m at Rosehill Gardens.
A deep episode contains five last start winners, including the four-year-old Makfi (GB) gelding coming off dominant on pace wins at Scone and Muswellbrook with an attractive weight drop and inside barrier for Tim Clark on 54.5kg.
"We're coming with a realistic winning chance - always a promising sign when they take the next step from a maiden and win just as well up in weight in better grade," Stephen Jones assessed.
"He's made natural progression, a harder race obviously but we don't know his limits with only five starts.
"He'll race on pace with that weight drop, and he'll run a mile. Strong form race, five last start winners and we're one of them. But we're coming down knowing he'll run us a race the way it sets up."
With most of the speed drawn outside of Andorra La Vella, it's anticipated he can lead at appealing double figure odds.
The other speed in the race is with Chestnut Scaffa, Statesville and Mikado.
Meanwhile since Highway inception it's been a launching pad for Harvey's regional runners, the majority trained by Jones at Scone or Joe Cleary at Queanbeyan.
Invariably they produce when brought to town and series winners have been numerous.
In a wide betting episode, Andorra La Vella is $13 with Sizzling Cat, So Say You and Chase My Crown sharing favourtism at each way odds.