Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Shannon Suvaljko is driving in superb form, and he has established a commanding lead on the WA drivers’ premiership table, having landed 77 winners this year to lead from Chris Voak (62), Gary Hall Jnr (59), Stuart McDonald (57) and Deni Roberts (53).
He has been booked for six drives on the nine-event program at Gloucester Park on Friday night and he considers that Classic Choice could prove to be his best winning chance when he starts from the No. 2 barrier for trainer Debbie Padberg in the 2130m The West Australian Pace.
Classic Choice has been unplaced at his past seven starts, the victim of a succession of unfavourable barrier draws.
“If Classic Choice can hold the lead, he will be hard to beat,” said Suvaljko.
Withoutthetuh (barrier three), Dominus Factum (six) and Navy Street (seven) possess good gate speed, but it appears problematic that any of those pacers will be able to muster sufficient early speed to deny Classic Choice the luxury of setting the pace.
The main danger to Classic Choice certainly appears to be the Greg and Skye Bond-trained six-year-old Jett Star, who will be driven by Roberts from the outside barrier in the field of eight.
Jett Star has dashed to the front in the final stages at each of his past two starts but has been relegated to second by fast-finishing pacers Eldaytona and Middlepage. He will appreciate a drop in class here and should prove hard to beat.
Suvaljko also expects a strong showing from Sweet Vivienne in the Harry Capararo Westbred Pace for four and five-year-old mares, and from Valhalla Miss in the Nova 93.7 Pace.
“Sweet Vivienne has drawn perfectly at barrier one and I expect her to go well in front,” said Suvaljko. “But Acharne Girl looks very hard to beat.”
Acharne Girl, trained by Gary Hall Snr, is the only runner on the back line, and Gary Hall Jnr will have many options during the 2130m event. Acharne Girl also started off the back line last Friday night when she raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, before finishing strongly to be second to the brilliant Aardiebytheseaside.
Valhalla Miss, trained by Craig Hynam, will start from the No. 4 barrier on Friday night when Storm The Beach, the least experienced runner in the field, will be all the rage.
Storm The Beach, prepared by Katie Howlett, is drawn out wide at barrier seven, but he has the class to overcome that disadvantage.
He will be driven by Chris Voak, who said: “He drops hugely in class and looks my best chance on the night. He ran a really good race against quality opposition last week (when eighth behind the brilliant Mister Smartee).”