Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Flying finishes at his past two starts have made seven-year-old Vulcan Star a horse to follow. And he gets his chance to reward his followers by winning the 1730m Trotsynd Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred Vulcan Star, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, has yet to win at his eight starts in his current preparation. But he is surely close to notching his eleventh victory.
Vulcan Star, to be handled by his regular driver Deni Roberts, has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting from out wide at barrier No. 8 this week. He lacked early sparkle from the No. 3 barrier in a 2130m event last Friday night when he settled down in eighth position, and was seventh at the bell before charging home, out five wide, to finish an eye-catching third behind the pacemaker Onesmartfella and Bettors Destroya.
He sped over the final 800m in 55.95sec. A week earlier he began from barrier five in a 1730m event and raced in ninth position before surging home, out six wide, to finish third behind Onesmartfella and Mirragon. He dashed over the final 800m in 56.27sec.
Toughest for Vulcan Star to beat are likely to be Middlepage and Carrera Mach. The Lindsay Harper trained and driven Middlepage reappeared after a spell when he was restrained from barrier four and raced in tenth position before finishing strongly to be third behind the pacemaker Miss Serenade over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Middlepage will start from the No. 4 barrier, with the Jemma Hayman-trained Carrera Mach at No. 2 and with Chris Voak sure to be keen to set the pace over the sprint journey.
Carrera Mach started from barrier one over 1730m last Friday night when he was beaten for early speed and raced three back on the pegs before finishing sixth behind the frontrunning Sangue Reale.
Much interest will surround the 2017 WA Derby winner Handsandwheels when he contests the APG Perth Yearling Sale Pace over 2130m at his tenth start in his comeback campaign.
Trainer-driver Aiden De Campo has gradually got the eight-year-old close to peak condition. He has finished third three times from nine start since resuming after a lengthy injury-enforced absence. He raced in the one-out, one-back position when a sound third behind Himself and Glenledi Chief over 2130m last Friday night. The final 800m was covered in 56.1sec.