Walkers out for home-track win

THE Walker family is looking to secure its first Group 1 victory at its home track as Stoned I Am prepares to line up in the Aldebaran Park Bill Collins Trotters Mile on Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup night.
The consistent performer will take on a strong field of eight in the $50,275 race, which is one of two Group 1 races at Cranbourne on Saturday night.
Stoned I Am’s driver Simone Walker, whose father Bill Walker trains the horse, said they would love to get their first Group 1 win at Cranbourne, but were aware of the tough feat ahead of them.
Australasia’s best trotter Keystone Del, trained by Nicole Molander, headlines the tough field and is going for his 10th straight win.
The second and third placegetters in the same race last year, Elegant Image and My High Expectations, will also line up in the race. Cold Sister, I See Icy Earl, Pretty Sunday and Rostevarren round out the field.
Walker said she knew they would need a bit of luck to take out the race, but were still hopeful they could at least secure a placing.
“He’s been going OK at the moment, but he is right up in class so they tend to all be as good as each other,” she said.
“He hasn’t drawn very well so it’s going to be tough, as some of the better horses are inside us.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to land when I leave the gate yet, but I’ll just have to wait and see how I go.
“There’s one really good horse in the race and then the rest of us are probably on the same level.
“That’s where luck comes into it, but that’s the way he races anyway so we hope we can get a good result. It’s just a pity we didn’t get a better draw or the really good ones drew further out.”
Walker said it would be a dream come true to get their first Group 1 win at their home track.
“We’ve tried a few times before and had horses in the Cranbourne Pacing Cup, but we haven’t been able to crack it, so it would just be amazing to do it Saturday night,” she said.
“We bred him too, so that would make it extra special.”
Keystone Del is the resounding $1.40 favourite on the TAB fixed odds market, followed by Elegant Image at $4.60. Stoned I Am is currently paying $41.
The winner of the race will receive an automatic invitation to contest the Great Southern Star Elimination Heats at Tabcorp Park Melton on 7 March next year.
Walker is one of four professional drivers who will take part in the inaugural Double Seater Sulky Challenge at Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup, this Saturday 6 December.
Other leading drivers Chris Alford, Daryl Douglas and Kate Gath will each share a seat with SEN’s Daniel Harford, former jockey Simon Marshall, harness racing form analyst Jason Bonnington and one competition winner in a four-horse race to be called by AFL legend Kevin Bartlett.
Walker said she hoped they would put on a good show for the first challenge.
“I’ve only done something like this as an exhibition, not as a race,” he said.
“It will be fun and should be a good spectacle.”
The first race will get underway at 6.30pm on Saturday night.