Drawn to join dam as Group One winner

A PERFECT draw has well-bred youngster Used To Be A Maid in a solid position to join her dam as a Group One winner.

Successful at her last three starts before being sent for a spell, Used To Be A Maid was a handy first-up fourth in an Australasian Premier Trotting Sales Series heat in Maryborough last week.

The performance earned Used To Be A Maid a berth in Saturday night’s Final at Tabcorp Park Melton in which she has drawn the pole.

By Used To Me, the trotter is from Maidstone Miss, which captured the 2011 Group One Redwood Classic during her Australian debut.

Pleased with Used To Be A Maid’s return, trainer Rodney Petroff is quietly confident the three-year-old can secure the $50,000 decider.

“She did well in the heat and the run has really sharpened her up,” Petroff said. “She’s trained on strongly since and will be a lot fitter for the Final.

“She’s drawn well and I’ll try to use it as best as I can.

“From there you’ve got to put them out of their comfort zone a bit, which is what I will be doing to settle her in a good position early.”

Citing heat winner Just A Bit Touchy as the one to beat, Petroff is also wary of New South Wales raider, Lindys Love.

Last season’s Breeders’ Crown winner, Just A Bit Touchy made her debut for the Andy Gath stable after being purchased by Alabar Bloodstock and Noel Jenkin.

The daughter of Father Patrick will begin from barrier four.

Trained by prominent horseman Blake Fitzpatrick, Lindys Love won her three starts before finishing second behind Just A Bit Touchy.

Lindys Love has drawn gate six.

“Just A Bit Touchy has proven herself a nice filly,” Petroff said. “She was also first-up in the heat and will no doubt strip fitter.

“Lindys Love can’t be dismissed, and if she was drawn inside Just A Bit Touchy, I’d go as far as saying she is the one to beat.”