Weekly preview / Nick Tedeschi / 15 December 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Silent Guardian was the star of the $75,000 Group 1 Hobart Thousand heats last Thursday, and looks hard to beat in the final, writes Nick Tedeschi.

He dazzled in a winning time of 26.04, easily the fastest of the seven heats, and anything like a repeat of that form should be enough to give Victoria trainer Darren McDonald the victory.

Though he has only had 14 starts, he looks to be good enough to make his relative lack of experience under pressure an irrelevance.

McDonald has another finalist next to Silent Guardian, in Ultra Rumble, but he has drawn badly in box four and as last week's heats showed he is slow to get away.

Prankster better for Hobart outing

Ultra Rumble was able to run down the field and pip Pure Thirst at the line, but this task could be beyond him.

A better bet would be Prankster, who has drawn box one having made it back-to-back Group 1 finals.

He was only seventh in the Melbourne Cup, but having a run at the track last week will have brought him on. He did well to come from behind to beat Disintergrate by three quarters of a length in 26.34.

Disintergrate made it into the final as the fastest second placegetter, less than one hundredth of a second ahead of Hellbound, but Charlie Gatt's representative has a tough task in trying to lead early from box seven.

Difficult to assess Disintergrate's heat

It's difficult to gauge his true form, though, as he was interfered with as Topline Doovee tried to cross in his heat.

Bells Pace, Sam Sultana's dog, was the slowest of the winners last Thursday and arguably only won because odds-on favourite Gardam Prince was baulked.

Gripen Bale made it 11 wins from 16 starts last week in beating Octane Show by 5.25 lengths, having begun in midfield. Graeme Bate would have preferred a better draw than box six, but he has to be a contender in this race.

Remo Rubik is another who deserves a mention, making his second Group 1 final in a row.

Geoffrey Mitchell's representative will fight for an early lead, though will have to cross Silent Guardian to do so having drawn box five.

But Silent Guardian and Prankster look the best bets in what is the final Group 1 race of the year.