Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Byford-trainer-reinsman Donald Harper is an astute judge of horseflesh, and he is hoping for an early success with the consistent New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Cloud Nine, who is perfectly drawn at barrier No. 1 in the 2130m TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Harper, who is on the doorstep of driving his 400TH winner, will handle Cloud Nine, who has been racing in fine form for trainer-reinsman Stuart McDonald.
“I bought him for $11,000 this morning (Tuesday) and then picked him up later in the day,” said Harper, who was in good form in the sulky at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening when he had three drives for three third placings, with Cherry On The Cake, Patrikiar and Sellune.
“Cloud Nine was advertised for sale and I was somewhat surprised that someone hadn’t snapped him up before I made my offer to buy him.
“We bought him because we haven’t had a Friday night runner for a while. We had Starlight Dream racing a month or so ago, but she is now having a break. Apart from that we have been pretty quiet in town.”
Harper has trained twelve winners from 49 starters this season, with Starlight Dream showing the way with five wins from seven starts.
The 36-year-old Harper has prepared 205 winners, with Hayton Brain being his most successful pacer, having 37 starts for him as a trainer and driver for ten wins, 15 placings and $292,695 in prizemoney.
Between 2007 and 2009 Hayton Brain won the Group 3 Fremantle Members Sprint twice, the 2008 Group 2 Celebrity Sprint, the Group 2 Mount Eden Sprint in 2007, the Group 3 2007 Village Kid Sprint at Northam, and the Group 3 Parliamentarians Cup in 2008. Hayton Brain also finished third behind Mysta Magical Mach and Divisive in the WA Pacing Cup in January 2009.
Cloud Nine, who has raced 75 times for ten wins, 17 seconds, four thirds and $129,881, is in splendid form, having won over 2536m at Gloucester Park four starts ago and being placed at his past two starts when finishing strongly to be a close second to Lil Happy Fella and third behind Ira Poole and My Ultimate Baxter over 2130m last Friday night.
Regarding his tactics on Friday night Harper said: “We will come off the gate and then assess our plans from there. He is probably at his best, sit and kick. It would be nice to get some return early.”
Cloud Nine’s toughest rival is sure to be Youre So Fine, who has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting out wide at barrier No. 7. Youre So Fine, prepared by Gary Hall Snr, has won at eleven of his 25 starts. At his latest start he was involved in an unsuccessful challenge for the lead for more than a lap before getting to the front at the bell and then fading to finish a distant tenth, with Cloud Nine running on from eighth at the bell to finish second to Lil Happy Fella.