Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Experienced former Victorian mare Eastbro Chrissy made a splendid WA debut with a fighting win at Pinjarra last Monday week, and her trainer-reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is quietly confident she will continue her winning ways when she begins from the No.1 barrier in the 2130m Beau Rivage Xmas In July Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Eastbro Chrissy began from the back line at Pinjarra and settled down in ninth position before making a fast move after about 400m to get to the breeze. She then raced without cover, just over one length from the frontrunning Lord Publisher before taking the lead 500m from home and being driven out to win by almost a length from the fast-finishing Curadh. She rated 1.56 over the 2185m journey after final quarters of 28.7sec. and 28.2sec.
“That first-up run was pretty good,” said Hall. “I didn’t want to be in the breeze, but she ended up there and overraced, and she still won easily. We will find out on Friday whether she has gate speed. The girl who drove her in Victoria said that when she led, she was able to beat the good mares.”
Eastbro Chrissy’s record indicates she is a capable frontrunner who has led and won three times at Mount Gambier and was an all-the-way winner over 2240m at Melton last December.
“I give her a good chance on Friday night of beating the good mares when I’ll be trying to lead,” said Hall. “She can bowl along and is quite tough.”
Five-year-old Eastbro Chrissy has raced 60 times for 13 wins, 12 seconds and four thirds for earnings of $80,817 and is sure to receive considerable opposition from Aardiebytheseaside (23 wins and $660,590), Heavenly Gipsy (14 wins and $193,454), Fakenit (six wins from 16 starts and $213,864) and Captainshavtime (11 wins and $141,907).