Muscle Mountain heads Hope trio in David Moss Stakes

Jonny Turner Harness Racing Journalist

Ben Hope admits he has a biased take on the Group Three Brendan Franks Farrier David Moss Stakes.

Hope and father Greg line up a powerful trio of trotters in the Ascot Park feature in Muscle Mountain, Mr Love and Midnight Dash.

Muscle Mountain is back in the south to defend his race title after he cleared out for an emphatic win in the race last year.

The market for the David Moss suggests the race is largely a head-to-head battle between Muscle Mountain and Mr Love, who are both close to a $2 win price.

Mr Love gets the advantage of starting 15m ahead of Muscle Mountain, who will line up from the same 30m back mark he won from last year.

When queried on whether that is enough of a head-start, Hope admits he can’t give a fair answer when his old mate Muscle Mountain is involved.

“Muscle Mountain has been stepping away really well lately and if he can do that, he isn’t going to be too far off them with the smaller field,” Hope said.

“I am probably biased, but I think he is the better chance out of our three.”

“I can see why people would be keen on Mr Love.”

“If he gets away fast and is able to handle the smaller track well, he might be able to get to the lead and he would be hard to beat.”

“Muscle Mountain got around the track really well last year and you probably know what you are going to get with him.”

“I would lean towards him, but if any of our three were able to win it, I would be thrilled.”

Midnight Dash is the third pick with punters of the Hope trio.

But as he brings respectable recent Group One form south, he’s not being looked at as the stable’s distant third-stringer.

“He went a nice race last year when he ran second to Muscle Mountain.”

“He seems in a good space, he’s a proven open class horse.”

The Hope stable brings one pacer south in Zarlini.

The mare brings the right form to her assignment, but drawing barrier 1 on the second row could put her in a tricky spot.

“If the one horse was able to hold up and we sat in the trail, you’d think she would be a great chance.”

“It is hard to say where she might end up, though.”

“Her last run was great, she got home really nice behind quite a nice two-year-old.”

“She just needs a bit of luck.”

Hope will drive Muscle Mountain and Zarlini, with Blair Orange to partner Mr Love and Gemma Thornley to steer Midnight Dash.