Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Serpentine owner-trainer Matt Scott is more than happy with the way veteran pacer Rock Me Over has returned to action after a 12-month absence, and he expects the nine-year-old to fight out the finish of the WA Foton Diesel At Catalano Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rock Me Over will start out wide at barrier No. 8 and will be driven by Dylan Egerton-Green, with Scott saying: “He’s bright and I expect him to run a really good race.”
Rock Me Over has had five starts in his comeback preparation and has impressed with his efforts in finishing seconds to Arma Xfactor and Cloud Nine on the past two Friday nights.
He began from out wide at barrier nine in a 2536m event last Friday night when he settled down in ninth position before dashing forward to race in the breeze with a lap to travel and then fighting on solidly to finish second to Cloud Nine after a final quarter of 28.9sec.
“Dylan said he went around to the breeze because the pace was so slow,” said Scott. “Rock Me Over is in a similar type of field this week, and Dylan could well drive him the same way. However, he doesn’t have to breeze, which is definitely not his go.
“Rock Me Over is the best horse in the race. He had a long break after damaging a hind suspensory ligament in a race in April 2023. He had nine months off before resuming racing last month.”
Rock Me Over has been an iron horse, having earned $404,714 from 25 wins and 64 placings from 208 starts. He shone as a two-year-old in 2017 when he finished a half-head second to Play The Boys in the group 1 Sales Classic for colts and geldings, second to the brilliant Jack Mac in the group 1 Pearl and third behind Cott Beach and Miss Sangrial in the group 2 Champagne Classic.
He is a half-brother to seven winners, including Handsandwheels (102 starts for 29 wins, 33 placings and $707,393) and Magnus Victor (37 starts for 12 wins, ten placings and $108,495).
Scott also has another veteran Gee Smith engaged in Friday night’s race. He will begin from barrier five with Corey Peterson in the sulky. Gee Smith caught the eye last Friday night when he was ninth at the bell and charged home, out six wide, to finish seventh, less than two lengths behind the winner Cloud Nine.
Toughest for Rock Me Over and Gee Smith to beat loom large as eight-year-old Alta Rhett and the youngest runner in the field in four-year-old Advantage.
Alta Rhett, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for Bunbury trainer Sarah Wall, has a losing sequence of 32 which includes 14 placings. He is handily drawn at barrier four and looks set to fight out the finish.
Advantage, to be driven by Deni Roberts for trainers Greg and Skye Bond from the No. 6 barrier, has won at seven of his 21 starts and is sure to prove very hard to beat.
Scott is looking forward for strong showings from Trittrittbangbang (barrier one) and Zuede (barrier two) in the final event on Friday night, the 2536m Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Pace.
“Trittrittbangbang should be prominent from his favourable barrier and has a good chance of running second to Velocipede, while Zuede is capable of being placed,” said Scott.
Zuede had his first run for Scott in a 1780m event at Northam last Saturday night when he raced behind the pacemaker before using the sprint lane and winning from Goodonya Mate.
Velocipede will start from the outside barrier in the field of nine and is sure to be a warm favourite, despite setting the pace and fading to finish last in a field of ten in a 2536m event last Friday night when he ruined his chance by overracing.
Velocipede’s driver Gary Hall Jnr said that the four-year-old was overrated but said he was confident the gelding would make amends and win this week.
“I will go back and sit him up this week,” said Hall. “With his speed he can come from last and win.”