Wesley Vale trainer Glenn Stevenson takes a handy team to the races in Devonport on Sunday with his last-start winner Misirlou considered one of his best wining chances.
Misirlou was having her first start in the state and made short work of her opposition in a maiden over 1150m, scoring by almost two lengths without being fully extended.
The rising six-year-old has done well since that win according to her trainer and stepping up to 1350 metres in the Great Northen Class 1 Handicap should be ideal.
"They tried the mare over 1400m when she was in Melbourne without much success, but she gives me the impression she will definitely appreciate the 1350m on Sunday," Glenn Stevenson said.
"I was originally going to give the mare a break after her last start but her owners from King Island, Ron, and Joy Crack, are coming over, so I thought I'd run her in what is still a very suitable race.
"She has drawn the outside gate (10) but that's probably an advantage because she has some barrier issues and being loaded last will help."
The Cracks also own Gaudi Girl that has her first start for Stevenson on Sunday in the 1009-metre maiden (race one) and the trainer expects her to run well.
Impressive trial winner Shim, from Team Wells' stable, also lines up in he first race and if the two-year-old Wordsmith filly takes her trial form into the race she looms as the one to beat in the Birdcage Tavern Maiden.
"I know Shim was impressive in winning a trial, but she wouldn't want to do anything wrong because my mare has worked really well this week and will run a race."
Two Dollar Tom's form on paper doesn't look much to write home about but Stevenson rates him an each-way chance if he gets the opportunity to do his best in race 3.
"Two Dollar Tom's past two runs have been alright and while I never go to the races expecting him to win, I know that he has the ability to get the job done, he just has to put it all together and if that happens, he can win."
Stevenson rates Ubriaco, who lines up in a benchmark 68 over 1350m, as his best winning chance even though he has Lesnar in the same race.
Lesnar was an eye-catching second to Barry Campbell's good horse Julius in Devonport two weeks ago over 1150m and he will be suited by the rise in distance, but Stevenson says the same applies to Ubriaco.
"We have been struggling to find the right races for Ubriaco, so he's had to run in unsuitable races, but this one on Sunday looks ideal.
"It's also a nice race for Lesnar but Ubriaco has come on this preparation, so should Codi (Jordan) be able to slot him in somewhere in the first half of the field with some cover he can win."
