Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding young reinsman Kyle Symington returned to Perth on Wednesday after a three-month holiday in America, and he is looking forward to resuming his association with the brilliant colt Waverider, who looks the winner of the group 2 $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The 22-year-old Symington has driven Waverider to six victories at Gloucester Park and he is expected to take full advantage of the favourable No. 2 barrier by using his sparkling gate speed in a bid to lead all the way in the 2130m classic.
Waverider, trained by Ryan Bell, should be close to his peak after two runs following a spell for a close first-up third behind Water Lou at Gloucester Park followed by a dashing all-the-way victory over Rox The World in a qualifying heat at Pinjarra on Monday of last week when he rated 1.57.4 over 2185m, with final quarters of 27.7sec. and 27.5sec.
The Ron Huston-trained Bet The House looks set to pose the most serious threat to Waverider. He notched his sixth win from 12 starts when he set the pace from the No. 1 barrier and won the other qualifying heat, rating 1.57.1, with final 400m sections of 28.8sec. and 27.5sec.
He will begin from barrier four and will be driven by Chris Voak, who said: “He will go really well. Waverider looks hard to beat from barrier two. Reverse the draws and I’d say it would be our race to lose. On paper, it now looks Waverider’s race to lose.
“Bet The House ran a faster time in the heats than Waverider, and he was probably more impressive to the eye. But given the barrier draws Bet The House is realistically a place chance.”
The Mike Reed-trained Water Lou dominates betting on the $100,000 Allwood Stud Westbred Classic for three-year-old fillies. A winner of $362,589 from 20 wins and two seconds from 25 starts, Water Lou will begin from the No. 4 barrier.
“Water Lou is spot on,” said leading reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. “Barrier four is a good draw, and we will have options. But we can come out hard and I’ll drive her like the best horse in the race.
“When she led and won a qualifying heat at Pinjarra (rating 1.57.3 over 2185m) she was a bit underdone but still hit the line in 27.5sec. So, we worked her hard on the track at Gloucester Park last Saturday when she went quick time.”
Capel trainer Aiden De Campo prepared the other two heat winners at Pinjarra — with Copy Cat Queen rating 1.58.5 and Miss Hepburn rating 2.0.1.
He will drive Copy Cat Queen from the No. 1 barrier, and Trent Wheeler will handle Miss Hepburn from out wide at barrier No. 8.
“Copy Cat Queen has been very good since resuming after a spell and she has won at three of her past four starts,” said De Campo. “She is not blessed with great gate speed but barrier one helps, and we will come out as hard as we can and hold a forward position.”
Chris Lewis had the choice of drives between World Secret and Sugar Delight, who both finished second in qualifying heats at Pinjarra. He has opted for the Katja Warwick-trained World Secret, who will start from the No. 2 barrier, with the Barry Howlett-trained Sugar Delight to be handled by Emily Suvaljko from the outside of the back line.
Lewis has been the regular driver of both fillies, and he said that each had run home strongly with fast last 800 metres. “However, the overall time set by World Secret was better,” he said.