Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Back-line draws have forced Whatabro to be driven as a sit-sprinter at his past two starts, and Coolup trainer Michael Brennan is delighted that the former South Australian pacer will start from the No. 1 barrier in the $18,500 Go The Cardies Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he is looking forward for a strong showing from the five-year-old.
“He has been racing super,” said Brennan. “He has done a great job and gets a chance to earn another really good cheque. From back-line draws at three of his past five starts we have had to drive him with a sit, but this week we will be doing our absolute best to lead.
“I think he can hold out Western Arterra, but if he can’t, then he will have the sit behind that horse and can still win.”
Whatabro, to be driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, excels as a frontrunner, and he showed that he is near his peak last Friday night when he trailed the pacemaker The Kraken and did not get into the clear until the late stages when he charged home to finish third behind Doc Holliday and The Kraken in a three-way photo finish.
Whatabro has been wonderfully consistent for Brennan, with his 36 West Australian starts producing four wins, four seconds, four thirds and seven fourths for earnings of $74,145.
Western Arterra, to be driven by Kyle Symington for trainer Corey Peterson, will start from barrier five and is expected to make a bold bid to take an early lead. He began brilliantly from the No. 9 when he set the pace and won easily at a 1.57.3 rate over 2130m three Tuesdays ago.
Gary Hall Jnr drove him on that occasion, but he has opted to handle Euphoria, who will start from the No. 4 barrier. Euphoria has been racing in stronger company and has been placed behind Jaspervellabeach and Arma Einstein at two of his past four starts. “This looks a winnable race for him,” said Hall.
Symington has high hopes of victory when he drives the Ryan Bell-trained The Code Breaker in the Sport FM 91.3 Pace in which he will start from the prized No. 1 barrier. The Code Breaker impressed last Friday night when he was ninth in the middle stages before surging forward, three wide, to the breeze at the bell and then fighting on to finish third behind The Mustang and Stamford over 2536m.
A week earlier The Code Breaker set a solid pace and romped to victory over Pontevivo and Rokorico, rating 1.57.7 over 2130m.
“He is racing well, and he’s got the perfect draw this week,” said Symington. “The plan is, hopefully, to lead, but I’m aware that there is a bit of speed outside of us in the form of Mirragon and Athabascan. Last week The Code Breaker got home in quick time, and he had to go round them. He made up the most ground of the horses who were back in the field, and two pretty nice horses beat him home.”