Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Lightly-raced Albany-trained mare Koolbardi Navajo will be making her first appearance at Gloucester Park on Friday night for 17 months when she lines up in the $35,000 Race For Roses — and reinsman Stuart McDonald predicts that she is capable of running a bold race.
Koolbardi Navajo underlined her wonderful potential at Pinjarra last Monday week when she began from the outside barrier (No. 7) on the front line in a field of eight and raced in last position until McDonald switched her three wide 800m from home, and she sprinted brilliantly to burst to the front 200m later before careering away to win by seven lengths from Make Your Mark, rating 1.55.2 over 2185m, with final quarters of 27.1sec., 27.9sec. and 29.6sec.
This week Koolbardi Navajo will be having her first start in a stand when she will begin from barrier four on the front line, with smart and seasoned city performers Cyclone Charlotte (20m), Turn The Page (10m), Three Rumours (20m), Fly To Fame (front) and Fleur Du Marquis (10m) all in good form and sure to be fancied.
“If Koolbardi Navajo steps away she will be hard to beat, with her rivals having a hard time to run her down,” said McDonald. “Hopefully, I can get her away safely. I think she is a top mare who is capable of going all the way, and by the end of the year I expect her to be racing in Perth every week and racing in Free-For-All mares’ company.”
Koolbardi Navajo is trained by Tim Stone, who has given the mare two trials in stands at the Albany track with mixed success.
On December 15 last year Koolbardi Navajo stood flat footed and lost several lengths at the start of a 2247m trial. She was last in the field of four util she surged forward 400m from home to dash to the front 80m later and win by eight lengths from Mummas Little Star, rating a modest 2.5.5.
Then on December 31 she began safely in a trial field of three when she set the pace and won by 70m from Step It Up, rating 2.2.9.
Koolbardi Navajo has appeared twice at Gloucester Park — when she won by five lengths in an event for three-year-olds on February 1, 2022, and then in October that year when she overraced and choked down before finishing more than a half-lap behind the rest of the field.
Her past 13 runs have been in the country for three wins at Albany and one win at both Wagin and Pinjarra.
Cyclone Charlotte, to be driven by Aiden De Campo for Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams, is overdue for a win after being placed at seven of her past eleven starts since winning a $30,000 event for mares from Beyond The Sea and Taking The Miki on October 13 last year.
Turn The Page, to be driven by Deni Roberts for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has won at eight of her 13 starts. She disappointed last Friday night when she raced without cover for much of the way and finished third behind Mighthavtime and Fleur Du Marquis. Roberts blamed laziness for her below-par effort, and she will be looking for a more genuine performance this week.