Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has made an interesting decision by choosing to drive the New Zealand-bred gelding Captain Bligh ahead of stablemates Im The Black Flash and Velocipede and the Justin Prentice-trained star three-year-old Rolling Fire in the opening event, the 2130m Allwood Stud Devoted To Breeding Excellence Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The more favourable barrier draw at No. 3 on the front line — and a runaway victory in modest company at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night — helped to sway Hall’s decision.
Captain Bligh, placed twice from nine New Zealand starts, made his Australian debut for Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr when he contested a 2185m maiden event against modest opposition at Pinjarra last Monday week. He began from barrier six and set the pace before winning by 15 lengths from Devilish Grin, rating 1.59.7. He dashed over the final quarters in 28.9sec. and 27.2sec.
Captain Bligh then lined up on the outside barrier in a field of seven over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when he began speedily but was unable to cross Spudmeister and Hotly Pursued.
After a fast lead time of 35.9sec. Hotly Pursued took the lead after 700m. Hall then dashed Captain Bligh forward and the gelding got to the front 1050m from home and went on to win by five lengths from Hotly Pursued, rating 1.57.5.
Whether Captain Bligh can get to an early lead on Friday night is problematic, with fast beginner Tantabiddi drawn on his inside at barrier two. Tantabiddi, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Kim Prentice, made most of the running when a comfortable winner over 2130m at Kellerberrin on Sunday, rating 2.1.8.
Rolling Fire is in outstanding form and is sure to prove extremely hard to beat, despite starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line. He will be driven by Deni Roberts.
Rolling Fire has won in effortless fashion with Hall in the sulky at his past four starts to take his career record to 14 starts for nine wins, one second and $85,937 in prizemoney.
Hall also was impressed with Im The Black Flash when he drove him to an easy victory over Rocket City and Velocipede last Friday night when he raced in the breeze and covered the final 800m in 56.1sec. and rated 1.57.4 over the 2130m trip.
Stuart McDonald will handle Im The Black Flash from out wide at barrier eight, and Maddison Brown will drive Velocipede from the inside of the back line.
The Hall stable will also be looking for a strong first-up performance from the former Victorian pacer Ira Poole, who will begin from the No. 2 barrier in the 1730m Contact@Allwoodstud.com.au Pace.
The New Zealand-bred Ira Poole has raced 31 times for six wins, eight seconds and two thirds. “His work has been good, and he should run a good race,” said Hall Jnr.