Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant four-year-old Aardiebytheseaside, a shock failure when ninth behind Steno last Friday week, is set to make amends for that defeat by winning the $27,000 Follow @Skyracingau On Instagram Pace for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“The plan will be to lead from barrier one, and hopefully to get the cash,” said trainer-driver Jocelyn Young.
After winning at her first seven starts in Western Australia, the New Zealand-bred Aardiebytheseaside began from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line last Friday week when she paced roughly and broke in the mobile score-up before getting to the breeze after 600m and then fading over the final stages top finish almost ten lengths behind Steno.
“That was the first time she had drawn a wide gate, and you have to get up there a bit quicker than you do when down lower,” said Young. “She just got too fierce and broke. It was probably a one-off, and her two trials since then have been good.
“She did the whole trial at Pinjarra when I gave her a nice quiet run. And then she did a successful jump out at Byford last Sunday.”
Friday night’s race will be Aardiebytheseaside’s final appearance before contesting the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic the following Friday.
Most of Aardiebytheseaside’s seven rivals on Friday night will be running in the Norms Daughter Classic, with the Michael Young-trained Penny Black resuming after a three-month absence. She will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from barrier five and should be prominent following an excellent trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.
In the six-horse trial Penny Black raced in the breeze in the middle and late stages before winning by a half-length from Jaspervellabeach, rating 1.58.6 over 2185, with final quarters of 28.5sec. and 27.2sec.
Seven-year-old Jaspervellabeach is likely to be well fancied when he begins from the No. 1 barrier for trainer Gary Elson in the 2130m Sky racing Listen Live Pace. He has a losings sequence of nine and has won only once from his past 35 starts.
However, the opposition is not particularly strong and Jaspervellabeach, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko, should take plenty of beating. He is a noted frontrunner who is sure to take plenty of catching.
Another fast beginner is seven-year-old Hampton Banner, who will start from barrier four. He has a losing sequence of 17 (including just two third placings) and has managed one win from his past 45 starts.
Trainer Mike Reed has three runners — Dark Eyes (barrier three), Quinton (five) and Mikis Pride (six) in the WA Derby Consolation Pace — and he gives Dark Eyes the nod as the stable’s best winning hope.
“They will all go well, and Dark Eyes is my choice,” he said. “And he likes to lead. Quinton has been unlucky at his past couple of starts and if he gets cover, they’ll know he’s there.”
The stable trio will clash with Ideal Muscle, who will be driven by his trainer Aiden De Campo from barrier four. “I thought he was a touch disappointing last Friday night (when fourth behind Thenu Came Along),” said De Campo.
“I’ve had a few problems with him, but he is working back into form and hopefully he will put his best foot forward this week. I’ll try to slot him into a good position. He can then run home pretty fast.”