Bayley Duck excited for chance at group one

The 21-year-old will partner Mister Donald and Rockita in the heats of the Regional Championships for father Saul and also combines with Terry Powter aboard Penny Writer and Im Ok.

Both Mister Donald and Rockita come into the series after freshen ups to ensure they remain eligible.

Duck is pleased to have a couple horses in contention for a group one.

"It is great to be in it and it is good to have a few horses that we can try to compete with," Duck said.

"It should be good."

Duck rates Rockita his best chance but is far from thrilled by drawing barrier nine in the last of the five heats.

"Rockita probably isn't drawn that well, I would have liked to have drawn the front row with her as she likes to go forward and dictate a bit," Duck said.

"We will need a bit of luck with her. We had to given her a freshen up and hasn't had a trial or anything so will get better for the run."

Mister Donald won two straight, and three of his last five, before having a break with this series in mind.

He is one of three horses who have won at least their last two races heading into the heat.

Mister Donald (four) has drawn better than both Western Sonador (eight) and Delightful Jackie (nine) in the heat and Duck hopes it will help him out.

"He has a pretty good draw, but there is a pretty smart one outside him in Western Sonador, so we will see how we go," he said.

"There is a few of them who have won two or three straight so we will need a far bit of luck in that but he is going well enough though."

Throughout the five heats most of the favoured runners have drawn poorly.

It adds more intrigue to the first round of the series.

"It is a big thing in these races the draw," Duck said.

Duck picked up two drives for Wagga trainer Terry Powter with Im Ok looking the best of them after drawing 10.

Duck won with him two starts ago before a narrow second last time out.

"I thought he had a good draw and he will follow through good," Duck said.

"That should suit and he should go well. All the better ones have drawn pretty wide in the heats so it evens them out a bit.

"We just need a bit of luck."

However Penny Writer looks up against it after drawing immediately outside pre-series favourite Whereyabinboppin.

After drawing three, Duck is hopeful she can secure a good run in transit.

"'Boppin looks to be the winner in that but hopefully we can get in the running line somewhere and track along."

The first of eight races starts at 12.43pm with the heats running consecutively from 1.53pm.

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