Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Under the preferential draw conditions of the $50,000 Nova Winter Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night star pacer Gee Heza Sport has to begin from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
But the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old is racing in such grand form that he should overcome this disadvantage and prove the master of his eleven rivals.
“The draw doesn’t help us at all,” said talented driver Deni Roberts. “However, the distance (2536m) helps us, and we have options. He will be pretty sharp, and he has done well since winning last Friday night.”
Roberts and champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond will be anxious to overcome the disappointment of failing narrowly to win last year’s Winter Cup when Tenzing Bromac raced in the breeze outside the pacemaker Jumpingjackmac before taking a narrow lead 220m from home and then being beaten by a head in the final stride by Never Ending, who unleashed a spectacular burst from a seemingly hopeless position in eighth place with 250m to travel.
Gee Heza Sport is a powerful stayer, with his three appearances over 2536m at Gloucester Park producing two easy victories and a second placing to Mister Smartee in the $1.2 million Nullarbor slot race in April this year.
Roberts has a splendid record in the sulky behind Gee Heza Sport, having driven him nine times for seven wins, one second and a ninth placing (when he began from the No. 9 barrier, raced wide early and then in the breeze before wilting to last behind Wonderful To Fly over 2130m).
The Bonds will be looking for their second win in the Winter Cup, following $5.90 chance Ocean Ridge’s fast-finishing last-stride nose victory over the $2.15 favourite Chicago Bull in 2020.
Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall Snr will be relying on Im The Black Flash to give him a remarkable 12TH success in the Winter Cup, following wins with Kaydee (1994), The Falcon Strike (2003), Iontheball (2006), Washakie (2008), Im Themightyquinn (2009 and 2013), Davey Maguire (2012), Machtu (2015), Run Oneover (2016), Tact Major (2019) and Prince Of Pleasure (2023).
Five-year-old Im The Black Flash has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier and will be driven for the first time by Kyle Symington, who was engaged after Gary Hall Jnr elected to handle Mighty Ronaldo, who faces a stern test from out wide at barrier eight at his second outing after a spell.
Hall has chosen to drive Mighty Ronaldo, a winner of three group 1 feature events, who is prepared by astute trainer Justin Prentice, who will celebrate his 37TH birthday on Saturday. He trained and drove Never Ending for his dazzling victory in last year’s Winter Cup.
Prentice also will be represented by the in-form five-year-old Rolling Fire, who will be driven by Trent Wheeler from an awkward draw at barrier seven. Rolling Fire has returned to his best form with strong-finishing wins over 2536m and 2130m at his past two outings.
Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who turned 70 on Wednesday, will be looking for his ultra-consistent six-year-old Little Darling to become the fifth mare to win the Winter Cup which was first run in 1943 when Cliff Clarke was successful with Royal Sheik, who overcame the 84-yard handicap to beat Wise General and Princess Doral.
When Aiden De Campo drove Tricky Styx for trainer Jesse Moore in 2017 that mare became the first of her sex to win the Winter Cup since Phil Coulson trained and drove the mighty Color Glo to victory in 1966.
De Campo will drive the speedy eight-year-old for Coolup trainer Peter King on Friday night when the gelding will be an outsider despite seconds behind Paul Edward and Gee Heza Sport at his past two starts.
Paul Edward returned to his best form when he finished strongly to win from Longreach Bay over 2130m last Friday week. Trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green is delighted with Paul Edward drawing the inside of the back line, saying: “This is a perfect draw, and he likes to be on the rails.”