After one filly ruined Barry Purdon's morning on Thursday, another reminded him that all is not lost heading to today's Jewels meeting at Cambridge.
Purdon felt for Democrat Party and her owners after the Delightful Lady Stakes winner broke down in training on Thursday with what he thinks is a leg fracture.
"It is a real shame for her owners because she is a top filly who has had no luck in her last couple but was ready for this week," said Purdon.
But as the most successful trainer in New Zealand history Purdon knows the show must go on and he has one of the potential stars of that show today in Ideal Belle (R3, No.5).
The last-start NZ Oaks winner has the huge advantage of drawing the front line and is likely to lead while arch rival Venus Serena (13) could be chasing her for a long way.
And while it takes more than just a barrier draw to win a group one race, Purdon is displaying rare confidence about Ideal Belle.
"She couldn't be any better, and I don't often say that," he told the Herald.
"She worked perfectly on Thursday morning and was jumping around the paddock after.
"I think she will lead and if she does they will need to go 1:53 to beat her."
As fantastic as Venus Serena is, that makes Ideal Belle one of the multi bet anchors today and the one you want strongly on your main ticket in the $100,000 Pick6, which begins on race one.
Adore Me (R1, No.5) will win that first leg barring accidents, with the best way to make money out of the race the $2.60 offered for Helena Jet (4) in the favourite-out market.
Adore Me's stablemate Isaiah (R6, No.2) was another big winner in the draws and if he holds Tiger Tara (3) at the start the race is his to lose.
That pair and Sky Major (14) are genuine group one winners while most of their rivals are not yet and whoever gets the easiest run out of the trio should win, which is likely to be Isaiah.
Two of the Pick6 legs require several runners, with Prince Fearless (R2, No.3), Monbet (4), Wanna Play (5) and the safety option Arya (6) all needed in the juvenile trot in which the southerners are favoured over their northern rivals.
The freshman fillies pace will likely be heading south too so you need Fight For Glory (R5, No.2), Joannes A Delight (3), Katy Perry (6), Linda Lovegrace (8) and Supersonic Miss (11) on your ticket, with Fight For Glory drawn to get the best run.
That leaves the three-year-old trot as a Pick6 leg in which you should take one ticket with an anchor, King Denny (R4, No.5) and maybe include, in order, Mum's Pride (4), One Over Da Moon (9) and Majestic Time (7) on another ticket.
The toughest race of the day, for the four-year-old trotters, starts harness racing's first Triple Trio and manners and who isn't racing below their best - and that is very much open for debate - are crucial.
Prime Power (R7, No.6), Royal Aspirations (7) and Sheemon (13) are the proven open class horses so one of them should win but the skinny end of your Triple Trio ticket should include Bonechip (1), Oh Nova (2) and Paramount Queen (5).
While that all gets a bit messy, the next leg looks simpler with Follow The Stars (R8, No.14) the clear top pick and Art Union (1) just as clearly the danger.
If the latter leads, which is 50-50 at best, he will be hard to catch but Follow The Stars has twice overcome hugely disadvantaged runs to win in better fields than this so is worth anchoring.
The last race sees Franco Nelson (R9, No.12) seeing how much of a start he can give away to rivals who aren't as good as him but can still pace a mile in around 1:53.
If he can sit in off the speed for the first 400m and then launch he should be too fast and has Dexter Dunn in the sulky, which trims a length or two off the draw. But if the on-pace bias is really in play then Mossdale Conner (4) and Mighty Flying Mac (6) have miracle hopes and are the others to base your Triple Trio around.
Horseman puts doubts behind him with stack of drives
Eight months ago James Stormont was considering giving up training - today he will be one of the busiest horsemen at Jewels day.
Stormont has four of his own stable racing for their share of $1.2 million as well as two outside drives on harness racing's biggest day.
And he is not letting a setback with national-record-holding trotter Primz Luck dent his confidence.
"It is a big day for me because a year ago I never would have thought I'd be in this position," said Stormont. "I seriously considered giving up training.
"But I have kept working hard and the two nice young trotters [Primz Luck and Mum's Pride] turned up and things started to turn around.
"So I am looking forward to a huge day, regardless of what happens."
Primz Luck was a shade below his best last week but has bounced back in time to take his place in the 2-year-old trot. "But he has a bad draw so will need luck. I'll be happy if he can run into a place."
But Mum's Pride has emerged as a future open class trotter and looks the biggest danger to King Denny in the 3-year-old trot.
"He gives me the feel of a good trotter and he has improved since his second in the Derby.
"He trialled well last week and has the speed to use his draw so they are going to know he is there."
Charleston Belle faces a terrible draw in the 3-year-old pace as does Art Exhibit in the freshman fillies pace.
And Stormont reins Chillysjustastrutter against Adore Me in the first and one of the big autumn improvers in Norvic Nightowl in the last.
"It will be an interesting race because a few of the better horses have drawn the second line so there will be some moves." Not many as big as the move Stormont's career has made in the last season though.