Racing Preview In Australia

Has The Answers, winner of his last five races including the Grade 3 Brennan Memorial last time out, faces an increased prospect of defeat when he lines up in the Group 2 Members Sprint over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night in the harness racing action.

The draw has not been kind, leaving him in barrier 10 on the inside of the back line, which will significantly reduce the chance of Has The Answers using his customary early speed. His recent victories have seen the 8-year-old gelding use the aforementioned early speed to set the pace on each occasion en route to success. However, in barrier 10, he risks being trapped in behind better drawn horses down on the pegs and this has a huge impact on his chances of winning.

Has The Answers will be driven by regular pilot Chris Lewis, who intends to make every attempt to get out of the pocket and off the pegs in order to allow the gelding to surge to the front. Lewis, who has won this race 11 times, believes that, provided everything falls into place, all hope of victory is not lost. Of those 11 wins, three have come in the last five renewals.

The biggest danger lies with Motu Treasure, a winner last Friday in the Pat Cranley Sprint despite having a troubled passage down on the pegs and flying home in the final 300m and grabbing the long-time leader Grinjaro right on the wire. Drawn handily in barrier 4, Motu Treasure is unbeaten in his two races over 1730m this far and connections are hopeful that this 5-year-old New Zealand-bred can make it seven wins from nine career outings.

Other notable entries include Aussie Reactor. Winner of the Golden Slipper back in 2008, this 5-year-old took a while to hit form in 2010 but has won his last two races at Gloucester Park over 2536m and 2130m respectively. He has, however, failed to make the frame in his last two attempts over Friday’s distance of 1730m, so bear this in mind if you're looking at the latest harness racing odds.