Yoda Lady Getting Better Ahead Of Howard Ashton

SOUTH Australian-bred classic, the Group 3 Howard Ashton series kicks off at Angle Park on Thursday and Finniss trainer Lauren Harris has Yoda Lady peaking at just the right time.

The two-year-old chaser has recorded a hat trick of wins at the Adelaide circuit during the past four weeks and is one of the leading contenders for the race open to South Australian-bred pups whelped between January and June 2022.

The series consists of six heats on Thursday with two semi finals seven days later before the $37,500 Final over 530m on May 23.

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Yoda Lady contests the first heat on Thursday and Harris said the black bitch heads into the series "on the improve" which is ominous for rivals as her Angle Park personal best of 30.52 seconds is the quickest of the 41 dogs entered for the series.

"Yo-Yo's (Yoda Lady) been a really nice addition to the kennel," Harris said.

"We had a dog about 12 months ago for the owners, the Bartholomews, a bitch called Mary Bridget. They are based at Mount Gambier and anything they think it up to city grade, they send up.

“She came to us in March, and she hasn't looked back.

"She's a daughter of an American stud dog called Blazin' Wildfire and like a lot of dogs by American sires, she's just kept improving and improving."

CHECK OUT LAUREN HARRIS'S UPCOMING RUNNERS, RECENT RESULTS AND BEST PERFORMERS

Since her move, Yoda Lady has won five of her nine starts. After being defeated in her Angle Park debut on April 4, things have turned for the better with three consecutive wins.

"She may not be the best beginner but when she hits the ground she accelerates quickly and she manages herself quite well with dogs around her," Harris said.

"She's getting a lot stronger.

"She only turned two three days ago, she's only got four 500s under the belt and she's only just now starting to blossom."

On Thursday, Yoda Lady has drawn box four in the opening heat which consists of seven runners so box five is vacant.

"Not that I've done much form, I'm very happy with the heats she's landed in," Harris said.

"I don't mind the mid draw.

"She's performed well from middle draws in recent weeks and if we can make it through, we'll save the good boxes for a semi and the final.

"As long as she gets around safely, that's all we ask."

Harris is chasing her first success in the Howard Ashton series after winning the second half of the year SA-bred classic, the Brian Johnstone in 2010 with Handsome Shiraz.

The kennel has been on fire in recent months with Harris firing at 30 per cent winners to runners from her last 50 starters which have returned 15 victories.