Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star reinsman Kyle Harper celebrated a notable milestone at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when he drove four winners on a program for the first time — and he has high hopes of continuing his golden streak by guiding Talks Up A Storm to victory in the $31,000 The West Australian Free-For-All over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The 34-year-old Harper’s four winners followed a treble at Pinjarra on Monday, and he gives the Murray Lindau-trained Talks Up A Storm a great chance of notching his 19TH victory when he begins from the coveted No. 1 barrier.
Talks Up A Storm’s clash with the speedy Pinny Tiger should produce loads of action, with Harper declaring: “I think we can lead and win. Plan A will certainly be to lead. I’d like to be out in front, especially with Pinny Tiger being first-up.
“But if Pinny Tiger crosses Talks Up A Storm at the start, I still think we can win. There could be fireworks at the start. Talks Up A Storm is pretty quick, and I think that if we can hold Pinny Tiger for the first 50 metres, we should be able to keep him out.”
Last Friday night Talks Up A Storm began from the No. 2 barrier in the 2130m Howard Porter Memorial and was beaten for early speed by the polemarker Sangue Reale, who set the pace and beat Talks Up A Storm by 4m.
“There was a bit of cat and mouse at the gate, and whoever led was probably going to win, and whoever sat behind the leader was unlikely to get a (clear) run,” said Harper. “Talks Up A Storm got out late and hit the line strongly.”
Pinny Tiger, trained by Michael Brennan, will be driven by Chris Voak from out wide at barrier No. 7 in the field of eight. This will be his first appearance since he led from barrier one and won the 2662m Narrogin Cup on May 11. That followed his close third behind Catch A Wave and Jumpingjackmac in the 2936m Fremantle Cup a fortnight earlier.
“I drove Pinny Tiger on the track at Pinjarra last Saturday, and he worked really well,” said Voak. “He has the gate speed and I daresay we will be trying to lead and lead them on a merry dance.
“Pinny Tiger is heading towards the WA Pacing Cup (on November 8) so I would like to think he will run a strong race in this field.”
Harper began this week with his treble at Pinjarra on Monday with Miss Knowall ($2.50), Blaze Koops ($2.60) and Control Queen ($3.30) and followed with wins on Tuesday with Fleur Du Marquis ($26.90), Sir Belvedere ($49.20), Pocketful Of Opals ($3) and Uptown Lad ($3).
He was unlucky not to have driven another winner on Tuesday when Island Tee Rex was a certainty beaten when a close second to Sonic Chip. Island Tee Rex trailed the pacemaker Il Bandito and was hopelessly blocked for a run until he got clear with 120m to travel and charged home.
“The closest I had got to drive four winners was about 13 years ago,” said Harper. “After driving three winners I was driving Black N Bettor, the $1.10 favourite, for Gary Hall Snr, but the horse refused to score up and caused two false starts and was scratched.”