Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
There is little exposed form in the final event, the $21,000 Team Bond Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with Mister Linton emerging as a major hope despite being unplaced at his past six appearances.
Mister Linton, a Sweet Lou six-year-old, will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed from the awkward barrier at No. 6.
However, Mister Linton’s two starts (at Pinjarra) since resuming after a spell have been encouraging, with the gelding doing his best work at the finish.
“Both his runs have been good, and he came from last and a long way back to finish fourth behind Oh Miki on Monday (when the final 400m sections were run in 27.4sec. and 28.4sec.) and he gets his chance to win on Friday night,” said Reed.
A week earlier, Mister Linton raced three back on the pegs before running on gamely to finish fifth, less than two lengths from the winner Wicked Hustler.
Suvaljko also has excellent winning prospects earlier in the night when he drives veteran pacer Whos The Dad for trainer Kevin Charles in the Joseph Suvaljko Pace over 2130m.
Whos The Dad is a capable frontrunner who is ideally drawn at the No. 1 barrier at his 99TH start in a race. He has been out of the winning list for 17 months, but this looks a suitable race for him.