Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Brilliant mare Aardiebytheseaside, unbeaten at her six appearances in Western Australia for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will reappear after a six-week absence when she clashes with dazzling speedster Steno in the $27,000 TABtouch Harness Racing Free-For-All for mares at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The outstanding mares will line up next to each other, with Aardiebytheseaside at barrier four and Steno at barrier five in an event that star driver Deni Roberts describes as four-year-old Aardiebytheseaside’s stepping stone into her grand final campaign.
“It’s a good race, and she has a bit of class on her side,” said Roberts. “She has been freshened up, leading into the feature races (including the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on November 8 and the $150,000 Mares Classic on November 22).
“We didn’t want to keep her up all that time, following her last-start win in the August Cup. There could be fireworks early on Friday night.”
Outstanding trainer-driver Jocelyn Young is looking forward to five-year-old Steno returning to action after a 25-week absence — following her last-start second to Aardiebytheseaside in the 2536m Empress Stakes on April 19 when she set the pace and overraced.
“Steno trialled up good the other day and should be fitter for that run,” said Young. In the 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week Steno was restrained from the No. 4 barrier and raced in fifth and last place in the Indian file affair until Young eased her off the pegs at the bell.
Steno then made up ground rapidly to move to the outside of the pacemaker Soho Moonraker 650m from home. The final 400m sections were covered in 26.9sec. and 27.2sec. and Steno was not fully extended in finishing second, a length behind Soho Moonraker, who rated a smart 1.56.9.
Young will also be represented by four-year-old Castella Dellacqua in Friday night’s event, in which she will start from the No. 1 barrier with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
Brown handled Castella Dellacqua when the mare began from the back line and raced three back on the pegs before finishing strongly to win easily from stablemate Peaceful, rating 1.55 over 2130m after the final three 400m sections were covered in 28.5sec., 28.5sec. and 28.6sec.
That followed Castella Dellacqua’s impressive win over Zephyra and Sister Cherie the previous Friday night.
Three Rumours will resume after an eleven-week absence, and trainer Nathan Turvey said that the mare was working really well and was ready to run a good race. Three Rumours, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko, is awkwardly drawn at barrier seven but is capable of working hard in her races and still fighting out the finish.
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young has decided not to contest Friday night’s Free-For-All for mares with his talented five-year-old Wonderful To Fly, a winner at 30 of her 57 starts. He has chosen to run Wonderful To Fly in the You’ve Got The TABtouch Pace, in which she is favourably drawn at barrier No. 2 on the back line.
“I thought that this race was the better option for Wonderful To Fly after her unplaced runs at her first two starts after a spell,” he said. “There is good speed in front of her, and I’ll let the race unfold and play it by ear.”
Wonderful To Fly will clash with several in-form pacers, including Rockmyster, Star Casino, Goodfellaz, Stormyskyes, Classic Choice and Rock Me Over.