Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Unruly pacer Greatgreat Boulder left star driver Deni Roberts searching for superlatives after he thundered home from a seemingly impossible position to snatch victory in a race at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
The WA-bred four-year-old trained by Greg and Skye Bond has been an unreliable pacer in his short career of 16 starts but there is no doubting his tremendous ability.
“I didn’t think he was going to win last week, and he shocked me with his brilliant performance,” said Roberts when assessing his prospects from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the Hoist Torque Australia Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Greatgreat Boulder gave further proof of his outstanding ability with his win last week when he was six wide early before being restrained to last in the field of ten. He was ninth at the bell and eighth when switched three wide 275m from home. He went five wide on the home turn and flew home to get up and snatch victory from Blameitonthenight.
“He still has a few tricks every now and then,” said Roberts. “But he is getting a lot better. We are happy to leave him ODM (out of the draw in mobiles). With his gate manners he is better off out there — for my safety and everyone else’s.
“I think he is quick enough (to win) if there is a bit of tempo in the race.”
Among Greatgreat Boulder’s rivals this week are the New Zealand-bred pair of Blameitonthenight (barrier three) and Hes Never Been Beta (barrier eight), who are trained by Gary Hall Snr.
Gary Hall Jnr will drive Blameitonthenight, who finished a half-head second to Greatgreat Boulder last Tuesday week before he raced in the breeze for much of the way and finished third behind Delulu over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.
“Blameitonthenight should benefit from that run when he ran some good sectionals (28.9sec., 28.2sec. and 28.6sec. over the final three quarters),” said Hall Jnr. “He is still a bit fat, but if he was able to lead on Friday night a win would be on the cards.”
Hes Never Been Beta will be handled by Trent Wheeler. He gave a sound first-up performance when he raced in the breeze and held on to finish third behind Madam Publisher and Captain Stirling over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday.
Cee Dee Three and Lord Titanium are in splendid form and will have admirers despite their awkward barriers.