Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The clash between brilliant New Zealand-bred three-year-old fillies Aretha and Captainshavtime in the Odin Consulting Services Pace over 2130m promises to be a highlight of Friday night’s ten-event program at Gloucester Park.
Captainshavtime, to be driven by Deni Roberts for champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has gained an advantage over the Jemma Hayman-trained Aretha by drawing inside her rival at barrier seven, with Aretha on the outside in the field of eight.
However, Aretha has the advantage of having one start in her current preparation, while Captainshavtime will be making her first appearance for 19 weeks.
Captainshavtime had three starts in New Zealand for a win and a third placing, and her ten WA starts have resulted in six wins and two placings, the most notable being her excellent third behind champion gelding Cyclone Jordy in the group 1 Golden Slipper last September.
Aretha, to be driven by Chris Voak, raced three times in New Zealand for two wins and a third placing, and her four WA starts have resulted in three wins and a third placing.
Aretha resumed after a spell in fine style when she finished powerfully to win the $35,000 Daintys Daughter Country Classic at a 1.57.4 rate over 2185m at Pinjarra last Monday week. She raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back before switching three wide 400m to follow Bull Shark Betty. She burst to the front 50m from the post and won by a length from the pacemaker Ruby Lou.
Bull Shark Betty (barrier three) and Ruby Lou (barrier six) will contest Friday night’s event in which they should be prominent but unlikely to beat Captainshavtime and Aretha.
Nine two-year-olds will contest the 2130m Moonstream Information Services Pace in which leading trainer Michael Young holds a strong hand with three runners, Butter Me Up (barrier five), Toby George (eight) and Cease To React (nine).
“They are all going well, but under the preferential barrier draw conditions Cease To React and Toby George will need some luck,” said Young.
“Cease To React went better at Bunbury last Saturday (when he ran on from twelfth and last at the 800m to finish sixth behind Bettor Move Matty).” The gelding will be driven by Stuart McDonald, with Emily Suvaljko choosing to handle Toby George.
“Toby George was a bit disappointing when eighth behind Bettor Move Matty at Bunbury, but he worked hard, and he’s not an easy horse to drive,” said Young.
Butter Me Up will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko and has each-way claims after racing three back on the pegs and running on into third place behind Bettor Move Matty.
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond will be represented by The Final Offer and Chugach in Friday night’s event, with Deni Roberts opting to drive Chugach from an awkward draw at barrier six, with debutant The Final Offer starting from the No. 1 barrier with Tom Nally in the sulky.
Chugach won at his first two starts, at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park in February and March before setting the pace and finishing a close second to Wishing Belle in the Champagne Classic and then going for a spell.
He resumed racing at Gloucester Park last Friday week when he began from barrier seven and raced at the rear before meeting with severe interference with 120m to travel and finishing seventh behind Slay Queen.
The Final Offer ran a sound trial when second to Toby George over 2185m at Pinjarra last Wednesday week he began from barrier four and dashed to the front after 100m before taking the sit behind Toby George 800m later. He was beaten by 2m, with the final quarters being run in 28.9sec. and 28.1sec.