Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
“Another wide draw (No. 9) is not ideal, but Never Ending is definitely on the way up, and he can win,” said star reinsman Jack Callaghan when assessing the Justin Prentice-trained five-year-old’s prospects in the $31,000 Taste Of WA Janette Donnelly Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’m very happy with where he’s at in this preparation. Both his runs in this campaign have been great — when he has hit the line strongly.”
Never Ending resumed after an absence of nine and a half months when he began from the outside barrier and was eighth at the bell before finishing powerfully to be fifth behind Magnificent Storm in the 2130m Past Presidents Cup three weeks ago.
And then he started from barrier eight in a 2130m Free-For-All last Friday night when he raced in seventh position in the one-wide line before sprinting home with a sparkling late burst to finish an eye-catching fourth, out wide, behind Minstrel, Gee Heza Sport and Mister Smartee when the final quarters, off the front, were run in 28.5sec. and 26.7sec.
Overall, this week’s event is not as strong, and Never Ending’s chief rivals loom as Swingband, Captain Ravishing, Lusaka and Brickies Dream.
Trainer Ryan Bell will drive Swingband from the favourable No. 2 barrier, and he is full of confidence, saying: “I’ll be leading and Swingband will take some beating. The 2536m will be in our favour.”
Swingband was a luckless seventh behind Captain Ravishing over 1730m last Friday week, after he had impressed with his third behind Magnificent Storm and Gee Heza Sport over 2130m the previous week. Swingband led early before taking the sit behind Magnificent Storm, who charged to the front after 450m. The final 400m was run in 26.9sec.
Captain Ravishing, trained and driven by Lindsay Harper, has the disadvantage of beginning from the outside of the back line on Friday night. He enjoyed an ideal trip, one-out and one-back, before charging home to win at a 1.52.6 rate over 1730m last Friday week. That followed his first-up second to Mister Smartee over 2130m a fortnight earlier.
“He went over a mile (1730m) at his latest start, and now he will be running over 2536m.,” said Harper. “I’m still learning about him, and I’m not quite sure where he’s at. I have been walking with him and cantering and galloping in the cart in heavy sand. Whatever he does on Friday night he will improve on.”
Ace driver Deni Roberts is expecting a strong effort from the Bond-trained Lusaka, who is drawn out wide at barrier eight.
“It’s not a great draw but it’s not a particularly strong Free-For-All, and if he goes like he did in the breeze (when second to Rock Artist two weeks ago) he will be a good chance,” said Roberts.