Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive the Michael Young-trained six-year-old October Reign in the 2130m Pat Harding Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night ahead of the speedy gelding Regal Cheval, whom he trains.
He sought permission from the stewards to drive October Reign, even though he trains Regal Cheval. The stewards acceded to his request, and Regal Cheval will be driven by Maddison Brown from a favourable barrier as the only runner on the back line.
October Reign, a winner at nine of his 60 starts, will begin from the No. 4 barrier. “He is capable of leading and winning, going on his past two runs,” said Hall. “I’m also happy with the way Regal Cheval is going. He finished a very close third behind Anotherbigman last week and was a half-length second to Soho Santorini at Pinjarra at his previous start.”
Trainer-driver Jocelyn Young predicted a strong effort from The Watch Maker, saying the ten-year-old was racing soundly and was capable of figuring in the finish after starting from the No. 3 barrier. “This is not an overly strong field,” she said.
October Reign’s past two runs have been most impressive. He was a $41 chance when he began brilliantly from the outside barrier (No. 8) and led after 200m in a 1730m event last Friday night. He fought on to finish a close third behind Ima Fivestar General and Deeorse.
A week earlier October Reign broke into a gallop soon after the start, losing several lengths before he made up a lot of lost ground to finish sixth behind Nullarbor Navajo over 2130m.
Hall also has sound winning prospects with the Michael Young-trained Watching Our Coin, who will begin off the 10m mark in the 2530m Ernie Manning, Matt Young and Wayne Currall Handicap.
Watching Our Coin started off 30 metres and sustained a spirited burst to get up and win the 2560m Northam Cup last Saturday night. Ardens Horizon looms large as a major threat to Watching Our Coin.
The Callan Suvaljko-trained and driven five-year-old Ardens Horizon will start from the outside of the front line, and he has an excellent chance of ending a losing sequence of 16. He was hampered for room when he ran home solidly along the inside to finish fourth behind Jawsoflincoln in the Nights Of Thunder last Friday night.
Star reinsman Chris Voak gives Withoutthetuh a strong chance, with the Michael Brennan-trained seven-year-old starting from the inside of the 10m line.
“I give him a good each-way hope, and he is definitely a winning chance,” said Voak.
Voak will also drive the brilliant six-year-old Pinny Tiger for Brennan in the 2130m WA Hall Of Fame Submissions Due Pace. “He is coming back to racing (after a three-month absence) in a very weak grade,” said Voak.
Pinny Tiger, whose 41 starts have produced 14 wins and 11 seconds, is perfectly drawn at the No. 1 barrier. “I don’t think he needed to draw the ace to win,” said Voak. “I say he should lead and win.”
Voak drove Pinny Tiger when he sored an effortless victory in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra last Wednesday week. He rated 1.55.3 and sped over the final 400m in a dazzling 26.1sec.
Ravenswood trainer-driver Jocelyn Young has bright prospects of continuing a wonderful winning streak when she handles Cowboys And Bandits in the 2130m Ernie Manning Pace.
Cowboys And Bandits warmed up for this event in fine style with an effortless win at a 1.55.7 rate over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening. Cowboys And Bandits set the pace and sprinted over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 28.5sec. to beat Alfredi by two lengths.
“We used his gate speed (from barrier one) for a change, and he went really well,” said Young. “He’s a winning chance on Friday night but it won’t be as easy as it was tonight.”