Crook qualified Maebee, Magnetic Terror and Glenledi Elvis for the 2579m event. The race has returned to a mobile start after being held on stands for the past seven years.
“We were aiming for three, and it probably helped that there weren’t as many in the second moto, and we’re happy we got them all through.
“It’s all very equal expectations. It will probably come down to who gets the better run,” Crook said.
Maebee has proven to be a steal for Crook. He has only missed out on a place in one of ten starts since joining his stable, with his biggest win coming in the Listed Devonport Pacing Cup held in Launceston two starts ago.
“I can’t blame him. He has been active for a while and continues to raise the bar,” said Conor.
The Bettors Delight gelding finished 13.1 meters behind The Shallows in the second leg of the Tasmania Cup on February 20. The trainer expects the pacer to improve through that run.
“He had an easy ten days after the Devonport Cup, so he fell a little short in the heat, and I expect him to be better on Saturday.
“Six of the seven (from the front row) will probably be facing forward. We’ll probably all have the same plan in trying to find the fence, knowing they’ll probably run 55 seconds in the last half. We’ll just come out and see what happens and play it by ear,” said Crook, who will also drive the pacer.
Magnetic Terror qualified in the first heat of the series as he took the shortcuts to finish sixth, with the pacer winning five of his 11 starts in Hobart.
“He was fine (in his heat). I expect him to be better on Saturday. He looked a little like Maebee and walked away from us a little bit, and he’s had a few weeks (after the first heat) to mess up instead of that one,” the coach said.
Glenledi Elvis completes Crook’s trio, with the gelding two runs back after a month’s absence from the track.
“He was on the fast back-up (in last week’s heat) and needed that run. He probably has the most ability of my three but comes with the worst draw.
“Sorting the drivers was quite easy, I own Maeebee so I had to drive him, and I think I fit in with him. Jordy (Chibnall) suits Magnetic Terror, Liam Older suits Glenledi Elvis,” Crook said.
Maebee and short-price favorite Treidtotellia are two of six horses eligible for a $20,000 bonus awarded by the Tasmanian Trotting Club to the winner if they are Tasmanian bred or have been in the state for six months and have been fully Tasmanian owned for the past 12 months.
Crook will also be chasing success with Ultimaction in the Listed Woodlands Stud George Johnson (2090m), the state’s premier mare race, which has drawn just a field of six.
Ultimaction is the second after a period where the mare galloped poorly in a standing start event when she finished first on February 15, being beaten by 106 metres.
“It wasn’t the most ideal run if you ran into a George Johnson, missed the start and got chased, but her work at home seems good, and she should find the top and run down a bit,” Crook said of the mare who will be ridden by Jordan Chibnall.
Saturday’s nine-race card starts at 6:11pm, with the first two races shown on Sky Racing 2, while the remaining races, including the Tasmania Cup at 9pm, will be shown on Sky Racing 1.
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