She drives my horse or she doesn't drive!

WHEN it came to making a decision on which pacer Taylah Osmond would drive, there was no decision to be made according to her grandfather, Ian Osmond.

"She drives my horse or she doesn't drive!" Ian joked.

Taylah qualified two contenders for Friday night's Regional Championship Final, but was only ever going to partner heat winner, Cortez.

That's not because her other option, View The Art, finished third, but because Cortez is trained by Ian.

"It was never going to be any other way," Ian said. "Taylah is family, and if she wants to be fed properly, she drives my horse!

"Taylah is the regular driver of the other horse, which is the one to beat, but she's sticking with us.

"Hopefully that family loyalty will be rewarded on the night and she brings home the win."

Drawn to search for the lead from barrier three, Cortez is the $4.40 second elect via TAB Fixed Odds, with View The Art the $3 favourite from gate two.

In what shapes as an open affair, Thalassophobia is on the third line of betting at $5.50 from barrier four.

"He went super in the heat," Ian said. "I was over the moon with him.

"He has pulled up in excellent shape and is ready to go again.

"We will aim up from the draw and see what happens from there.

"If there is a lot of pressure we'll see what happens, but that's up to Taylah to sort it out, which is what she did in the heat."