Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Emerging star Hale Saint Louie, a brilliant winner last Friday night when he charged home from last at the 950m, will be seen in a vastly different role at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green planning an all-the-way victory in the $30,000 Pure Steel Pace.
From the outside barrier (No. 9) last week Hale Saint Louie was restrained at the start before he revealed his sparkling speed by sprinting over the final 800m in 55.7sec. the fastest final 800m on the nine-event program.
Hale Saint Louie, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old, has proved to be an excellent frontrunner, having set the pace in five of his eight victories in his splendid 16-start career.
“From barrier one he should be able to lead and make every post a winner,” said Egerton-Green, who holds a powerful hand in the 2130m event with three runners, Hale Saint Louie, Maungatahi and Paul Edward.
A trifecta result certainly is a realistic outcome for Egerton-Green. Maungatahi will be driven by Trent Wheeler from the No. 6 barrier, while Paul Edward, to be driven by Maddison Brown, is favourably drawn on the inside of the back line.
Egerton-Green has a high opinion of Maungatahi, having driven the four-year-old 31 times in his 34-start career of nine wins and 14 placings. He brought up a hat-trick of wins last Friday week when he led and beat Sound Wave over 1730m. That followed easy wins at Northam and Narrogin.
Five-year-old Paul Edward will be making his first appearance since he finished last behind Adda Spoilt Major over 2130m at Gloucester Park on December 29 last year.
Egerton-Green is confident that Paul Edward will be prominent on Friday night when he is likely to enjoy a perfect sit behind the frontrunning Hale Saint Louie.
In a field of five in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week Paul Edward dashed to the front after 200m and won by two lengths from Blaze Coops, rating 1.56.1 after final 400m sections of 28sec. and 28.6sec.
One of the main dangers to the Egerton-Green trio looms large as the Bob Mellsop-trained Blaze On, who will start from barrier five with Deni Roberts in the sulky. Blaze On has won at seven of his 16 starts. He goes into this week’s race in peak form, having won at Pinjarra at his past three starts.
He has appeared only once at Gloucester Park, and that was ten starts ago when he led from barrier two and easily beat Miki Diamonds and Skylou over 2130m on September 19 last year.