A glimpse around the Forbury Park sprint series final field just before the start last night gave trainer Kirk Larsen confidence with Risk Factor.
"I was looking around at the start and I thought he's probably the best horse in the field.''
But Risk Factor's awkward draw of four concerned Larsen, who drove stablemate Melina Lowe.
"At the end of the day, it's all about getting the right run,'' he said.
"I thought from the draw, that wasn't going to happen but sometimes it works.
"He's run six seconds this year to really good horses like Swamp Major, so he probably deserves one, but it doesn't mean you're going to get it.''
The form out of a trial at Oamaru last Saturday gives punters a good guide to race 4 at Timaru tomorrow.
Madam Spur, the winner of last Saturday's trial, lines up in a c1 2600m trot tomorrow and should be tough to beat based on Sam Galleon's smart win last night.
Sam Galleon finished second to Madam Spur, and back in third was Monnay, who was a smart second off 45m at Addington on Thursday night.
Sam Galleon's victory, which is penalty-free under the 3yr-old concessions, vindicated trainer Phil Williamson's decision to give the son of The Pres a spell after winning in his first campaign earlier this season.
"They just need a bit of a freshen-up when they're on their first preparation if they start performing below par,'' he said.
"He's pretty laidback but he's an improving horse.
"He's got better, he's got stronger and that's what you've got to do to go up the grades. He's a pretty good staying horse. I think he'll just mature and become a better horse than he is now.''
The half-brother to Springbank Sam (20 wins) is owned by part-breeder and outgoing Harness Racing New Zealand president Gary Allen, along with Sue Anderson, trainer Bonnie Williams, Cleland Murdoch and Williamson.
Williamson's eldest son, Nathan, will probably head to Addington in the next week or fortnight for a crack at a South Of The Waitaki Winter Warmer heat with Gangnam Style.
The 3yr-old made it two wins from two starts in this preparation for owners Neville Cleaver and Kevin Strong, and gave Nathan Williamson his 89th win for the season.
Fern Fever made it No90 for Williamson when she pulled away to win a maiden race at her 36th start and then he moved to No91 with Madison Jane's victory in the last.
Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight have trained Fern Fever for her past nine starts after breeder and previous trainer David Heffernan offered the 6yr-old to the Knights as a syndicate horse.
Heffernan is part of the Gabriels Gold syndicate, which includes mainly first-time owners from the Lawrence region.
"She's just been working so good and racing so good,'' Geoff Knight said.
"She's a big mare and just takes a while to get her fit.''
The $10,000 claimers final went to Donegal Jimmy Dave, who held out Four Starzzz Shiraz to provide Woodend Beach trainer Robert Dunn with three wins after victories with Haydens Meddle and Mr Meddle.
Dunn is now on 114 wins, nine behind premiership leaders Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
