Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
With the scratching of Mighty Ronaldo (pictured) the early pace should be hot in the opening race, with several of the front-line runners blessed with excellent gate speed, including trainer Murray Lindau’s speedy six-year-old Hotly Pursued, who has shown that he can begin with abundant speed.
Kylah Madden will drive Hotly Pursued, who will begin from the No. 6 barrier. He started from the outside of the back line in the 1730m Members Sprint last Friday night when he was a most unlucky fifth, finishing just a little more than one length behind the winner Sweet Pins. He raced three back on the pegs and was hopelessly blocked for a clear run in the closing stages.
Otis will resume racing after a spell when he begins from barrier nine for trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green at his first outing since winning the 2662m Narrogin Cup by a half-head from Gee Heza Sport on May 9.
“Otis is working good and will go good, but he will need a lot of luck from the outside barrier,” said Egerton-Green.
Hall is sure to have many admirers when he drives Fakenit, who will reappear after a spell when she starts from the No. 3 barrier in the $100,000 Celebrating Harness Owner Liam O’Connor Four-Year-Old Westbred Mares Pace over 2536m.
Fakenit, trained by Gary Hall Snr, will be making her first appearance since she set the pace from barrier two and won convincingly from Eastbro Chrissy and Wave Rebellion over 2130m on June 19.
“She will be hard to beat first-up,” said Hall Jnr. “She has done plenty of work behind the scenes and has been going good. We will make a play for the lead.”
Wave Rebellion, trained and driven by Stuart McDonald, will also be resuming after a spell, and she makes excellent appeal as a placegetter after drawing the inside of the back line.
Its Maa Time, trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, and Delulu, to be driven by Deni Roberts for trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will share the back line with Wave Rebellion and they should be running home strongly.
De Campo also is expecting a strong showing from Major Disco, who is ideally drawn at barrier one in the $100,000 Fly Like An Eagle Westbred Classic for four-year-old entires and geldings over 2536m.
“Major Disco has good ability, and I thought his second to Scooter B two Fridays ago was career best,” said De Campo. “He has good gate speed and leading will be Plan A.”