Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Contesting a standing-start event will be no novelty for the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Steel The Show, who will reappear after an 18-week absence when he begins from 10m in the WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
A good performance from Steel The Show, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, would enhance his prospects in the $50,000 group 3 Easter Cup, a stand over 2503m the following Friday.
Steel The Show is vastly experienced in stands, having contested 26 stands for three wins, seven seconds and three thirds. One of his best performances was when he began off the 30-metre mark and ran home strongly to finish second to Youre So Fine in the 3309m Marathon Handicap at Gloucester Park last August, four months after finishing fourth behind Betterzippit in the Nullarbor slot race.
He will be driven on Friday night by Deni Roberts, who has handled the Bettors Delight gelding in all of his 16 WA starts for seven wins and three placings. He will start off 10m and his main rivals are likely to be in-form standing-start runners Lucca and Ardens Horizon.
Lucca, trained and driven by Bill Hayes, will start from the front line in his final appearance before the Easter Cup. He began off the 10m mark last Friday week when he was sixth in the middle stages before sustaining a strong three-wide burst to win easily from Fly To Fame.
Byford trainer-reinsman Callan Suvaljko has Ardens Horizon racing in wonderful style in stands and mobiles. The New Zealand-bred five-year-old’s latest appearance in a stand was three starts ago when he set the pace and won convincingly from Lucca and Navy Street. He will start off 10m, alongside of Steel The Show.
Steel the Show has enjoyed a spell since he led and won by a half-head from star stablemate Minstrel in a 2536m mobile event on November 17.
The Kim Prentice-trained Hector resumed after a spell a month ago when he disappointed in fading to a distant ninth behind Navy Street after racing without cover. He will start from barrier two on the front line and is capable of considerable improvement. He raced in fourth position and finished last in a six-horse trial won by Mister Smartee at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.
Hector gave a sample of his class when he dashed to an early lead, set the pace and won a 2503m stand from Street Hawk and Taking the Miki in April last year.