Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The odds appear heavily stacked against star three-year-old filly Captainshavtime when she clashes with older and more experienced mares Freyja and Champagne Everyone in the $23,000 Gordon and Cecilia Cox Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Captainshavtime, trained by Greg and Skye Bond and to be driven by Deni Roberts, will begin from the outside barrier in the field of six, with Freyja (barrier five) and Champagne Everyone (barrier four) having a significant advantage over their younger rival.
Seven-year-old Freyja, trained and driven by Jocelyn Young, is in wonderful form, with her seven starts in her current campaign producing four wins and three seconds, while Champagne Everyone has resumed after a four-month absence with a first-up second to Princess Katie followed by an all-the-way victory by five lengths over Hunt The Magic last Friday week.
Captainshavtime reappeared after a spell last Friday night when she dashed to the front from barrier three and was not extended in leading throughout and winning by 4m from Unlucky, rating an extremely modest 2.1.8 over 2536m. That improved her record to ten starts for seven wins and two thirds.
“Obviously, this is going to be a test for her, racing against older mares, including Freyja, who has a better draw and is racing very well,” said Roberts.
“I might have to drive her a bit differently this week. I think she would have improved from her run last week. She has a lot of ability.”
Young expects Freyja to prove hard to beat, saying: “She is in very good form, and if she runs another first, second or third we will be pleased. She should fight out the finish. It will be nearly a fortnight between runs, because the race at Pinjarra on Monday didn’t hold up.”
Dylan Egerton-Green, who trains and drives Champagne Everyone, is pleased with the six-year-old’s form since resuming after a spell. “She is racing good, but will probably need a bit of luck,” he said.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding Friday night’s race will be the appearance of speedy seven-year-old Blaze Coops, with Kyle Harper expected to take advantage of her draw at barrier No. 3 by using her natural speed to dash to the front and set a solid pace.
Blaze Coops, who is prepared by Shane Tognolini, has won 14 races and at her past four starts she has recorded seconds to Freyja and Machlani and a third placing behind Montana Glory. She set the pace when a Pinjarra winner over 2185m six starts ago.