HARNESS RACING
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LEADING Wagga trainer Paul Kahlefeldt hopes class prevails when star mare Lettucereason resumes from a spell at Wagga Paceway today.
Kahlefeldt only returned from a break on the Gold Coast this week and will take a strong team of eight pacers to today's eight-race TAB program.
All of Kahlefeldt's team have enjoyed a brief freshen up since the Leeton carnival over the Christmas and new year period but it will be the return of a top juvenile that will be of most interest.
Lettucereason, a consistent Group One performer, will make her first appearance on race day since July last year.
Kahlefeldt originally planned to use Lettucereason, a valuable broodmare, for an embryo transfer but it failed to eventuate and she is now back ready to race.
Lettucereason has trialled three times in the lead-up to today's return and her last effort was a third placing behind eventual Temora Pacers Cup winner Reneging in fast time.
Lettucereason is drawn awkwardly in gate seven, inside the second row today, but Kahlefeldt hopes the four-year-old's class will get her through.
"She's had the three trials off a nice lengthy break and is going well," Kahlefeldt said yesterday.
"She's been back in for 12 weeks, had three trials and she's done it pretty easy in the trials and her last one was good.
"She's drawn very bad (today) but I'm hoping her class will get her through."
Adam Jenkins will take the drive on Lettucereason and Kahlefeldt does not want the mare to stay on the inside to be driven for luck.
"I don't think we'll risk that," Kahlefeldt said.
"I don't want her to be boxed in, I think we'll go back and see what happens.
"Hopefully she'll be too good."
Kahlefeldt plans to campaign Lettucereason, currently a C1, locally first before she embarks on a metropolitan campaign.
"Hopefully she can go through the grades before the four-year-old mares races in April and May," Kahlefeldt said.
Also representing Kahlefeldt today will be Major Kiwi, Lookbutdonttouch, Highview Oban, Hot Air Rising, Zenable, Lettucefib, Fliteoftheconcords and Deemajor Hangover.
Kahlefeldt believes his eight pacers will be around the mark but said the barrier draws were not kind to his stable.
He is most keen on Lettucereason, Major Kiwi and Highview Oban.