Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Harness racing fans are keenly anticipating the debut of well-bred filly Atlantic Gem, who will start from the No. 1 barrier in the $20,250 Westside Auto Wholesale Pace for two-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Atlantic Gem, who is by American sire Downbytheseaside, is a half-sister to star four-year-old Swingband, and she will be attempting to win on debut, just like Swingband, who won by five lengths in a race at Pinjarra on July 5, 2021.
Atlantic Gem gave a taste of her ability when she won a 2150m trial at Byford on Sunday morning. She set the pace from barrier one and beat Get The Booth by a half-length, rating 2.2.3, with final quarters of 30.3sec. and 29.9sec. The times are not particularly impressive, but the filly was not extended and won with something in reserve.
Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell said: “Atlantic Gem is a moody filly. Her trial was okay without getting too excited. She only does what she has to. Usually, she is a bit more zippy. So, I’m hoping the trial has sparked her up for Friday.
“She will be racing against some very experienced horses, and a lot with good gate speed. She has good gate speed, and I will leave the tactics up to Kyle (Symington). I don’t think she is a one-trick pony; I think she can lead but can also come from behind and get the job done.”
Among Atlantic Gem’s rivals are the Jemma Hayman-trained Chilli Punter (unbeaten at her two starts), trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo’s Maddy Lou (with two wins and a second from three starts), San Remo Beach (a Bunbury winner), and Dekla Diva and Manea, both of whom are racing with plenty of spirit.
It is significant that Chris Lewis chose to drive the Craig Abercromby-trained Lunetta in preference to Chilli Punter. Lunetta has managed only one placing (a third behind Bazaar Package on debut) from her five starts. But she is favourably drawn at barrier two, with Chilli Punter at No. 7.
Meanwhile, Swingband is on the injured list, and his immediate future is uncertain. “He has to be boxed for six weeks,” said Bell. “He has a fractured tibia; it’s only a stress fracture, so we’re hoping that all will be well after six weeks.
“At this stage Swingband has a 50-50 chance of making the feature four-year-old races towards the end of the year. After six weeks, and we’re not happy we will have to bypass the rest of the year and concentrate on next year.”
Bell said that stable star Shockwave had just returned after “two weeks up in the hills” and had resumed swimming this week.
“We will take our time with him, and we’re always cautious with his legs, while we know that he has to cop the work as well.”
The Bell stable maintained its excellent strike rate at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening, with Franco Encore and Speedwagon winning in fine style for Symington, who completed a treble when he drove the Chienoa Silver-trained Jolted Charm to victory in the final event.