Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Stuart McDonald made the most of an unexpected opportunity last week when he drove Lincoln River to a runaway victory — and he now has another chance to cash in on his good fortune by winning the Westside Auto Wholesale Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He filled in last Friday night when Lincoln River’s regular driver Abbey Vidovich was laid low, suffering from a delayed concussion. The 19-year-old Vidovich is still out of action, leaving the New Zealand-bred gelding’s trainer Jemma Hayman with the simple choice of engaging McDonald to drive the talented six-year-old again.
“I made the most of it last week and am hoping we can do it again this week,” said McDonald.
Lincoln River will start from the outside barrier in the field of nine, with McDonald saying that the small field would help the gelding to notch his eleventh win from 77 starts.
Vidovich, who has driven 123 winners, was dislodged from the sulky when Shes All Go contacted the sulky of Hes Royal Blue and fell with 450m to travel in a 1170m event at Pinjarra last Monday week.
Vidovich had three drives at Gloucester Park the following day for a third placing with Supreme Rhapsody and wins with Blitzar and Rockability. But later in the week she was affected by delayed concussion.
“Lincoln River has the most speed of all the nine runners in Friday night’s event,” said McDonald. “If he sits close enough to them, he should be hard to hold out. His latest run was impressive when he worked hard early and then was able to put them away like he should.”
In-form trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper has two runners in Friday night’s event, and he has chosen to handle Chivalry from barrier seven, while his daughter-in-law Lauren Harper will drive Spyglass from barrier six. “Both pacers are going okay,” said Harper.
Harper also has two runners, last-start winners Eldaytona (barrier three) and Minos (barrier six) in the $31,000 Westside Auto Fixed Price Servicing Pace over 2536m. He will handle Minos and Lauren will drive Eldaytona.
Harper said that Minos looked the better chance of his two runners following his splendid form at his first four starts in WA which resulted in three wins and a fourth behind Sorridere.
“This is a good field in which Petes Honour looks hard to beat after impressive wins at his past three starts,” said Harper. “And Thelittle Master will be a danger if he gets a soft trip. However, Minos should perform strongly over the 2536m journey.”
Thelittle Master and Tualou are prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond and will have many admirers after recent strong showings.
Deni Roberts has chosen to drive Tualou, who will start from the inside of the back line, with Thelittle Master (Tom Nally) the only other back-line runner.
Thelittle Master caught the eye two starts ago when he began from the outside of the front line and flew home from seventh at the bell to finish a half-neck second to Minos over 2130m.
Tualou reappeared after a three-month absence when he began from the back line and was tenth at the bell and was still at the rear half-way in the home straight before unleashing a devastating late charge to finish third behind Franco Encore and Hotly Pursued last Friday night.
“Both Thelittle Master and Tualou have handy draws, and I’ll drive Tualou because I think he is the better horse,” said Roberts. “Over the 2536m Tualou should be able to get into it at some stage, while Thelittle Master is flying, and all he needs is for the speed to be on while he is sitting back.”