“I shouldn’t be this confident, but I am”

MORE than a month before the series began, trainer Ray Harvey stated the most difficult part about the Inter Dominion would be reaching the Final.

Discussing his plans with rising star trotter The Penny Drops, Harvey’s concern wasn’t based on the three heats in a week, but rather the distances of the qualifiers.

With The Penny Drops a dour stayer, Harvey was wary about the gelding’s prospects over shorter trips.

The Final, however, will be ideal for The Penny Drops, which will thrive over the marathon 3009 metres.

Well, The Penny Drops has achieved the first objective by earning a berth in tonight’s $150,000 Group One at Club Menangle, with Harvey oozing confidence.

“I’ve been in racing long enough to know I shouldn’t be this confident, but I am,” Harvey said. “He has gotten better as the series has gone on and is in perfect shape.

“If I could write a script on how I wanted it to all unfold, everything has been exactly how I would have written it.

“He’s licked his feed bin clean every night, has come through each run in top shape and will love the long trip tonight.

“Outside of bad luck, if he does get beaten, it will simply be because he wasn’t good enough.”

Even The Penny Drops’ draw has pleased Harvey.

To be driven by respected reinsman Grant Campbell, The Penny Drops will begin from gate 12.

TAB Fixed Odds have the squaregaiter listed as the $4.40 equal favourite with fellow Victorian, Maori Law.

Prepared by father-and-son combo Richard and Emmett Brosnan, Maori Law has drawn gate six, but slots into five with the removal of the emergency.

“I’m happy with his draw,” Harvey said. “From there he can miss any early speed hustle and has plenty of time to be put into the race.

“Grant is driving him with a lot more confidence, and other than staying off the pegs, I won’t be giving him any instructions.”