Reinswomen will hit Forbury Park tonight wearing teal for a good cause.
In a campaign led by Harness Racing New Zealand to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, the country's female drivers will don teal driving pants during a six-week campaign, starting tonight.
Each driver who wins a race wearing the bright teal strides will raise $400 for the cause.
One southern driver is taking an extra step in support. Invercargill reinswoman Kirstin Barclay will donate 5% of any winning stakes she receives from her drives.
However, she will have to wait to build her tally,
and will not be in the sulky behind her stable runners tonight through suspension.
The decision to get behind the campaign to promote awareness of ovarian cancer was an easy one, she said.
''It's something that has affected a couple of people in my life - it is one of those terrible things - so I really wanted to get behind the cause.''
Barclay is throwing out the challenge to some of her rival drivers to join her in donating a percentage of their winnings.
''Hopefully some other people can step up as well.''
Barclay's counterpart, Sheree Tomlinson, looks to have one of the best chances of winning a race.
Honour The Bet, in race 3, and Rozzano, in race 9, look two of her stronger chances.
Kimberly Butt has a good chance of winning in teal on Glenisthebettor in race 4. The horse meets a field low on form after competing in stronger company recently.
Seven drivers will wear teal in race 7, tonight's junior drivers' event.
Of them, Mikayla Lewis looks to have the best winning chance with Missie Castleton.
Barclay will be represented at the meeting by four runners. Her stable's chances are headlined by the super-consistent but seemingly always unlucky Bontz.
Barclay is hopeful tonight can be the horse's night despite the mare again having a horror draw, on the outside of the front line, in the last race tonight.
''She is really well. She will be finishing on. She just tries so hard.
''I am not afraid of anything in that race - I think she is more than capable.''
Barclay has been impressed with Aidan Junior's recent work and the horse comes into race 3 on the back of a good trial win last week.
However, she does have some reservations about how the horse will handle his first trip away from Southland and how he might cope with the Forbury Park track.
Barclay has similar reservations about Lite Piccolo who will benefit from her first look at Forbury Park tonight.
Race 9 looks perfect for Barclay's charge, Ever Ready, and she expect a top-three run, though the horsewoman is wary the pacer has let the stable down in the past.
Barclay's four runners will all be driven by leading reinsman Blair Orange.
