Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Veteran Mundijong trainer Terry Atkins has bright prospects of landing his first metropolitan-class winner at Gloucester Park for twelve years when he starts Copy Of Paris and I Cross My Heart in the $30,000 Beau Rivage Westsired Pace for two-year-old fillies on Friday night.
The stablemates are favourably drawn, with Aldo Cortopassi giving punters a lead by choosing to drive I Cross My Heart from barrier three, with Shannon Suvaljko engaged to handle Copy Of Paris from the No. 2 barrier.
Atkins, whose most recent city-class winner was Blissful Snag, who led and beat Mister Gallenti in a 2503m stand on September 23, 2011, matched his fillies in a 2150m trial at Byford last Sunday morning when Copy Of Paris set the pace from barrier two and won by just under a length from I Cross My Heart, who was restrained to last from barrier four and finished with a solid burst and was not fully extended in the final stages.
The trial was run at a slow pace until the final 400m was covered in 28sec., with Copy Of Paris recording a modest 2.8.9 rate.
Each filly has had one start, with I Cross My Heart leading from barrier one for the first 100m before trailing the pacemaker Rocknroll Train and running home with a spirited burst to finish a half-head second to that gelding, rating 1.58.2 over the 1684m trip at Pinjarra on April 17, with the final 400m being covered in 27.4sec.
Copy Of Paris made a sound debut over 2185m at Pinjarra on June 19 when she trailed the pacemaker Ryder Rose and finished a close-up third behind Chilli Punter, who rated 2.2.4 after final quarters of 28.9sec. and 30.1sec.
The main dangers to the Atkins pair appear to be the Chris Voak-trained and driven Manea (barrier six) and the polemarker Dekla Diva, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for Pinjarra trainer David Young.
Manea is the most experienced runner in the field, with her twelve starts producing a smart win at Narrogin eight starts ago and four third placings.
Manea set the pace after defying a spirited early challenge from San Remo Beach and fought on doggedly to finish third behind In A Wink and Maddy Lou over 2130mo at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
“I used her off the gate and was happy with the way she settled,” said Voak. “Her work today (Tuesday) was as good as she has ever worked, and I think she’s a definite player.”
Dekla Diva notched her first placing at her seventh start when she began from barrier three in a 1730m event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night and raced three back on the pegs in the Indian file affair in the field of six. She finished with a strong burst to be third behind Chilli Punter and Ryder Rose.
“Dekla Diva pulled a bit early because they were going that slowly,” said Hall. “David (Young) is keen to use her off the gate on Friday night to see how she goes out in front.”