Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion co-trainers Greg and Skye Bond hold a strong hand in the $50,000 Group 3 Caduceus Club Classic over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night with four runners, In Rare Air, Chugach, American Falcon and The Final Offer.
The stable’s No. 1 driver Deni Roberts have given punters a valuable lead by choosing to handle In Rare Air, who will begin from the No. 1 barrier.
“From the draw, it looks a winnable race for him,” said Roberts. “He had a tough run last start (when a fading eighth behind Wishing Belle last Friday week), and I’m sure he will go a lot better this week. He likes to lead, and that will be the plan.”
Chugach will be driven by Kyle Symington from the No. 2 barrier; Stuart McDonald will handle American Falcon from the No. 3 barrier; and Tom Nally has been engaged to drive The Final Offer, who will begin from the back line.
Chugach has resumed after a spell in sound form, with placings at his first three appearances as a three-year-old; American Falcon also has been placed at his three starts this season after having had seven starts in New Zealand last year for a win at Cambridge and six placings.
The Final Offer has managed one win and four placings from 12 starts and faces a hard task from the back line.
Miss Leopatra, trained by Cameron Ross and to be driven by Jocelyn Young from barrier five, has won in good style at her past three starts and is sure to be prominent, as will Wake Up Geoff (barrier seven) and Amalfi Knight (inside of the back line).
Wake Up Geoff, to be driven by Mitch Miller for trainer Kim Prentice, set the pace and won the $100,000 Sales Classic for three-year-old colts and gelding last Friday night. The Aiden De Campo-trained and driven Amalfi Knight trailed Wake Up Geoff and fought of doggedly when third behind him and Ideal Beach.
Other good drives for De Campo, apart from Magnificent Storm in the Fremantle Cup, include Last Hard Copy, Bettor Arcade, Menemsha and Copy Cat Queen.
“Copy Cat Queen went super last week (when charging home from tenth at the bell to finish a close second to Little Darling in the 2536m Empress Stakes) and I will try to lead with her from barrier two,” said De Campo.
“She pulled up a little bit big but seems to have come on well. She is a great sit-sprinter, but when you get the chance to lead you might as well take it. She will be hard to beat if she leads and is able to relax.”
Aardiebytheseaside, who came from second last at the bell to hit the front leaving the back straight and fought on gamely to finish third behind Little Darling and Copy Cat Queen, is sure to prove very hard to beat on Friday night.
“It was a good strong run, considering where she came from,” said a confident Roberts.
Gary Hall Jnr gave punters a good lead when he chose to drive Franco Motu ahead of stablemate Alta Tribute in the Retravision For All The Electrical Stuff You Love Fremantle Cup Consolation over 2936m.
The two Gary Hall Senior-trained five-year-olds will start out wide, with Alta Tribute at barrier eight and Franco Motu at No. 9.
“Franco Motu was travelling turning for home in the Nullarbor last Friday night before getting tired late and finishing eighth,” said Hall Jnr. “He didn’t disgrace himself and this looks a winnable race on Friday night.”
Hall drove Alta Tribute to a thrilling last-stride victory over 2536m last Friday night, and the gelding should again be prominent. He will be handled by Stuart McDonald.