Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Hector, a lightly-raced and much-travelled New Zealand-bred six-year-old, is fit and ready to produce a strong first-up effort when he begins as the sole backmarker off 20m in the 2503m HTA Access Solutions Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He has been working super well and is forward enough to be competitive,” said Mitch Miller, who will drive the gelding for trainer Kim Prentice.
“Hector has had only two stands, the first of which was last April when he began beautifully from 10m, dashed to an early lead and won the Easter Cup.
“He has been stepping safely in practice at home, and being by himself off 20m on Friday night I imagine he should step cleanly. Lucca and Otis (both off 10m) look the hardest to beat.”
Prentice and Miller also should figure prominently with Lenora Jane (race one), Franco Ecuador (race four), Wasa Heat Seeker (race eight) and Soho Santorini (race nine).
Lenora Jane flew home from last to win, first-up, on Tuesday of last week, Franco Ecuador has won brilliantly at his first two appearances after a lengthy absence, Wasa Heat Seeker has won once and has finished second four times from his six starts since resuming from a spell, and Soho Santorini has won at four of his six starts as a five-year-old this year.
Franco Ecuador rises steeply in class when he begins from the No. 1 barrier in the HTA Rent A Gen Pace over 2130m.
“You win a pretty easy race last week and then you strike a field like this, going up one grade,” said Miller. “He’s got the ace draw and has plenty of gate speed. He came out with them last Friday under his own steam when I didn’t have to fire him out. If we hold the front and keep the lead, I can’t see him being beaten.”
Wasa Heat Seeker, who will start from the back line in the 2130m Hoist Torque Pace, disappointed when he raced wide and finished a well-beaten fourth behind The Wildcard over 1177m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
“He travelled super in that one-lap race, but I think he didn’t know what he had to do,” said Miller. “He thought there was another lap to go, and I would ignore the run. On his trackwork at home he is the best horse in the stable.
“He has been unlucky to have bumped into a couple of good ones. He has a good trailing draw on Friday night, and I will probably sit him up and run home. He is good enough to win.”
Soho Santorini will start from barrier three in the 2130m HTA Pace, and Miller gives him a chance against speedy beginners October Reign and Eldaytona, as well as in-form pacers Ardens Horizon and Watts Up Sunshine.