Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak has advised punters to overlook James Butt’s fifth placing behind Ima Fivestar General last Friday night and to stick with him when he starts from the prized No. 1 barrier in the 1730m Westside Auto Wholesale Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
On the surface, James Butt was somewhat disappointing last week. But Voak said he was not really disappointed because the eight-year-old needed the run.
“He was underdone, and his work this morning (Tuesday) was terrific,” he said. “His record over the short course is very good (having raced over 1730m six times for three wins, a second and to unplaced efforts).
“He will give them something to chase. He can hold out Talks Up A Storm (barrier five). James Butt is very quick, and he has held out Hampton Banner. And two starts ago over 1730m he led from barrier four and won easily, with Arma Einstein in fourth place. He rated 1.54.2 with the earplugs in.”
The Murray Lindau-trained Talks Up A Storm possesses sparkling gate speed, and he will certainly take plenty of catching if he is able to charge straight to the front. The Michael Young Watts Up Sunshine (barrier six) also has sound prospects.
Watts Up Sunshine won in effortless style at his first two appearances in WA last month before finishing fourth behind Arma Einstein in the Group 3 Four and Five-Year-Old Championship last Friday night.
He began out wide at barrier eight and raced in 11TH position before he started a spirited three-wide burst approaching the bell.
“That was a good run,” said reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. “And he is certainly capable of winning this week.”
Hall also has bright prospects with the Michael Young-trained The Mustang, who will start from the No. 2 barrier in the Direct Trades Supply Pace over 2130m. “I’ll be coming out hard in a bid to lead,” he said.
Hall also is also looking forward to driving Young’s promising two-year-old filly, who will be making her debut when she starts from barrier five in the 2130m TABtouch Pace.
Pecunious was driven by Shannon Suvaljko when she took the lead after 300m and set a slow pace in a field of three in a 1750m trial at Byford on Sunday morning. After dawdling quarters of 33.5sec., 33.1sec. and 31.1sec. Pecunious dashed over the final 400m in grand style to win by eleven lengths from Welloiled, rating a slow 2.6.1.
The only winner in the field is Amaretto Angel, who is trained by Brad Lynn and will be driven by Deni Roberts. Amaretto Angel, who will start from barrier six, started from the No. 1 barrier when she set the pace and won from Powerful Pearl over 1823m at Narrogin on Tuesday of last week.