Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted March 7 Journalists Share Posted March 7 By Jonny Turner If she can continue her winning run at Ascot Park on Saturday, Hidden Talent will complete a long path back to Group 1 racing. The mare will be out to make it four consecutive wins when she starts the short-priced favourite in the Northern Southland Trotting Club’s feature trot, the Mark Jones/Gordon Sutherland Memorial Handicap Trot (4.07pm). Hidden Talent last headed to Addington to compete at Group 1 level in December of 2022 when she was as a three-year-old. Though her form has fluctuated since then, there is no doubt about it recently given her blistering recent efforts. Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson is confident his six-year-old can show how good she is again on Saturday. But he also knows that winning will be no formality. “Coming back to the smaller track at Invercargill will definitely make things trickier for her.” “She’s healthy and bright and working as well as she ever has.” “But from 30m it is not going to be simple, that’s for sure.” “If she is in the right spot you’d like to think she would be able to finish over the top of most of them.” “But there are horses in that race that could run time off the front and set a bit of a task for her.” “It will be interesting, but I am very happy with her.” If there is a clear top pick among both the horses Williamson trains or drives on Saturday it looks to be Utah Jazz. The three-year-old has looked well capable in her recent trials and her trainer-driver is expecting a bold debut. “She is a nice filly, we have taken our time with her and pottered about because she was quite a big, nervy horse.” “We are looking at the Southland Oaks heats and this should be a nice starting point for her.” Williamson has Miraculous in Saturday’s feature pace, the Night ‘N Day/ Tip Top Ice Cream Autumn Cup (3.07pm)and he is expecting a solid showing from the pacer who gets back on an all-weather track after two runs on grass. “I don’t think he was a big fan of the grass, so getting back on the grit should be a help to him.” Ultimate Weapon looks another handy eachway chance for the Williamson stable on Saturday. The reinsman’s outside drives include Princess Macandrew who is the leading southern hope in the Group Three Caduceus Club and Alabar Fillies Classic (2.34pm). The filly comes into the feature event after winning all three of her public appearances. Williamson also links up with Princess Macandrew’s stablemate Always B Batman in Saturday’s Alabar Southern Supremacy Stakes Heat. Jonny Turner’s Five to follow at Ascot Park : Utah Jazz Drawing wide over 1700m is usually a recipe for disaster for punters chasing a short-priced favourite. But Utah Jazz looks to have a few factors to help her overcome it, with talent being the number one influencer. The small field the filly takes on is another key factor, as is the scratching of what would have been her main rival. So while barrier 7 won’t be any picnic for Utah Jazz, she looks well capable of overcoming it. For those looking for other horses to link up with the hot favourite, Shezabettorgirl looks a solid option. She drops back in grade after taking on smart two-year-olds and she has the benefit of drawing barrier 1. To place a bet on this race click here Betterthancash Tipping against a top-level star in Wag Star is never advisable and the five-year-old deserves to take top billing into Saturday’s fast class pace. But like many of the main chances in the event, he faces a handicap that could prove to be something of a leveller. One horse that doesn’t have that problem is Betterthancash, who is the only horse on the front line. He’s raced quality opposition throughout his career and with his best manners, he could step away and give the backmarkers plenty to chase. At decent early odds of $9 he could prove to be a more tempting value option for punters than some of those at shorter prices. To place a bet on this race click here True Image A strong debut effort chasing a smart winner looks great form to bring to an even maiden contest on Saturday. True Image ran on strongly into second in his debut behind Rising Storm who was very impressive in winning at Winton last week. That race was just a one mile dash, whereas the 2200m of Saturday’s event looks an even better prospect for the three-year-old. From barrier 4 and with the benefit of having a race, True Image looks hard to hold out. To place a bet on this race click here Hidden Talent and Practical Magic Regular followers of this column will be well aware of the run of seconds Practical Magic has been on. Again she’s handicapped to win on Saturday, but for the fourth time in five starts she will run into the seemingly unstoppable Hidden Talent. Practical Magic’s run of seconds have all come on big tracks and on Saturday she should theoretically be harder to run down around the tighter Ascot Park circuit. She’s off the front and looks a huge chance of finding the front and from there she will take catching. But don’t be surprised if Hidden Talent nabs Practical Magic late yet again. So perhaps the best option is to take them both in a quinella. 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