Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Hold The Ammo in preference to his stablemate Sebastian James in the $30,000 BOTRA – The Future Is Harness Western Crown Classic for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The two colts are trained by Katja Warwick and have been driven by Lewis in all their starts — two runs for Sebastian James for a third behind Lake Pichola and a narrow win over Captain Stirling, and three runs for Hold The Ammo for wins at Gloucester Park and Bunbury and a last behind Im Massimo at Pinjarra when he broke and dropped out of contention.
Sebastian James took advantage of the No. 1 barrier when he set the pace and held on to win from Captain Stirling over 2130m at Gloucester Park last Friday week, and he will enjoy the inside barrier again this week and the shorter trip over 1730m. He will be driven by leading reinsman Shannon Suvaljko.
Lewis opted to handle Hold The Ammo, who was most impressive in the De Campo Memorial over 1609m at Bunbury last Saturday week when he began from the back line and trailed the pacemaker Captain Paprika before surging home along the sprint lane to win easily from Seaside Magic, with the final quarters being run in 29.2sec. and 27.9sec.
“Hold The Ammo is ready for Friday, and so is Sebastian James,” said Warwick. “Hold The Ammo’s run at Bunbury was pretty nice when he announced himself. He drove down in the passing lane and put lengths on them when they were running 27sec., and he went to the line with the ear plugs still in.”
Lake Pichola, who will start from the outside barrier (No. 3) on the back line, is a most impressive gelding who should fight out the finish. He will be driven by Chris Voak for trainer Ron Huston.
Lake Pichola enjoyed the one-out, one-back position before he sprinted home brilliantly to finish third in a three-way photo with Sebastian James and Captain Stirling last Friday week. That run followed his excellent debut when he ran home strongly from sixth at the bell to win from Im Massimo and Sebastian James over 2185m at Pinjarra.
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo has decided to drive The Bettor Side (barrier seven) in preference to stablemate Captain Said So, who will be driven by Trent Wheeler from the more favourable No. 3 barrier.
The Bettor Side, winner of the $125,000 Sales Classic on March 1, resumed after a spell when he finished fifth behind Noble Thorundor over 2130m at Gloucester Park four Tuesdays ago.
“He was disappointing first-up but later I found out that he was suffering from a bit of a virus,” said De Campo. “We’ve got on top of that, and his recent work has been very good. So, I’m expecting him to return to his best on Friday.
“Captain Said So is going very well, even though he has a fair bit to learn, and his latest run (fifth behind Sebastian James) was a good run.”
Trainer Ryan Bell said he was expecting a strong performance from Its Crunch Time, who will start from barrier five, with Ryan Warwick in the sulky. The gelding broke through for his first win at his fourth start when he raced wide early and then in the breeze before going on to beat By Royal Command by three lengths, rating 2.0.9 over 2190m at Northam last Saturday night.
“I know they didn’t run home in fast time, but Its Crunch Time did all the work. He has come along in leaps and bounds and has improved out of sight,” said Bell.