Tricky draw for top chance in Mares final at Winton

By Jonny Turner 

Redemption won't be straightforward for Caught The Eye in the Diamond Creek SBSR Silk Road Mares Final at Winton on Sunday (3.32pm).

The series will culminate with the most even of contests over a mile at Central Southland Raceway.

That evenness is set up by higher assessed runners all drawing the second row, with favourites Caught The Eye and Kusama both landing in nightmare spots.

Caught The Eye was a powerful winner of a heat of the series at the same track, until she was relegated to second behind Dragoness.

Drawing the outside of the second row in the mile sprint is a tough ask for the Steve and Amanda Telfer trained mare, but she showed she's up to overcoming a testing trip in her recent second by relegation.

"I wouldn't underestimate her even though she's got a tough draw," Amanda Telfer said.

"It is probably fair enough to say that she is a little bit better than some of the mares in that race."

"And she showed when she was down there last time she can work into it and keep going."

While Kusama has drawn closer to the markers, she's also in a tricky spot in barrier 1 on the second row.

After running to an impressive win at Winton two starts ago, the mare went to the line without room to move in the final heat of the Silk Road series at Ascot Park.

The Telfer barn brings three horses south on Sunday with each to be driven by Anthony Butt.

Mama's Crunch looks a handy chance for the combination in Winton's finale.

"She's not one you could say was any kind of certainty, but she has got a nice turn of high speed," Telfer said.

"If she was handy enough to them and got a decent run she should go a nice race."

"She was driven upside down last time, just through circumstances but she went some nice races before that."

Semba returns to racing for the Telfers in the higher-assessed mobile pace on Sunday.

The pacer chased home a smart type in Renegade in his only trial to prepare.

"He is quite a nice horse, he is a country cups horse in the making, which is why he came down here from up north."

"He's had the one trial a fortnight ago which was good and he's had plenty of work."

"He is forward enough to be going a pretty good race."

Anthony Butt will be out to win his first race at Winton in almost 16 years on Sunday, following his recent return from Australia.

The reinsman last scored at Central Southland Raceway with Hostile Grins in December of 2010.