Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Deni Roberts is poised to set an important record at Gloucester Park on Friday night by becoming the first female driver in Western Australia to land 200 winners in a season and she predicts Minstrel as her best prospect.
And she is quite bullish about Minstrel’s ability to make life tough for the brilliant Lavra Joe, who returned to racing last Friday night in a blaze of glory with a dazzling all-the-way victory at a 1.52.9 rate over 1730m.
Lavra Joe, at his first appearance after eight months, burst straight to the front from out wide at barrier seven and he sizzled home with sparkling final quarters of 28.1sec. and 27.6sec.
Lavra Joe will start from the outside in the field of five runners on Friday night, with Minstrel drawn to his immediate inside at barrier four and with veteran pacer Vultan Tin at barrier two and commanding respect after setting the pace and winning easily over 2130m a week ago.
Two weeks ago, Minstrel, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, began off 30 metres and scored a superb victory in a fast-run 2503m standing-start event.
“That run was outstanding,” said Roberts, who has driven 199 winners this year. “Minstrel is very much in the zone at the moment, and we’ve definitely got the speed to lead. So, we will try to lead. Lavra Joe got out very good last week and was very impressive. But Minstrel is pretty good in his own right.”
And adding further intrigue to Friday night’s event, star reinsman Chris Voak said that Vultan Tin was terrific in surging to the lead after 550m and setting a brisk pace before winning easily last Friday night.
Vultan Tin will start from the No. 2 barrier, and Voak said that the 11-year-old’s connections like the gelding to burn out and lead.
“Vultan Tin is a free-rolling type who runs at his best out in front,” said Voak. “If Lavra Joe doesn’t lead I think he is vulnerable in this type of race.”
Roberts will drive in six of the nine events on Friday night, and she gives Cordero (race three), Carana (race four), Three Rumours (race five) and Mighthavtime (race seven) excellent place prospects, with Mighthavtime capable of breaking through for an overdue win from barrier three in the 2130m Vale Howard Angel Pace.
Mighthavtime, from the Bond camp, has been placed at each of her past six starts. “Her run last Friday (when a close third behind Bettor Move Along and Torpedo Rock) was really good,” said Roberts.
Mighthavtime began from the outside barrier (No. 9) and settled down in last position in the field of twelve before starting a three-wide move from the rear approaching the bell and getting to the front 400m from home before being overtaken in the final stages.
Toughest for Mighthavtime to beat are likely to be impressive last-start all-the-way winner Adda Spoilt Major from barrier two, and Cloud Nine, who should enjoy an ideal trip after starting from the inside of the back line.