Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Talented Capel horseman Aiden De Campo, fresh from driving a double with Between Two Thorns ($2.40) and Secret Reaction ($6.50) at his only drives at Gloucester Park on Wednesday, will be far busier at headquarters on Friday night when he will be in action in all eleven events.
He will be popular with punters, with his main chances appearing to be Dominus Factum, Machnificent, Dourado, Sport Sport Sport and Rockstar Rebel.
“If I don’t drive a winner I’ll have a pretty poor strike rate,” he said as he indicated that his best winning prospect was two-year-old Dourado in the $20,250 #Inthegig Pace over 2130m.
“The barrier draw (No. 1) makes Dourado a really good chance,” he said. “He led and won well at Pinjarra at his latest start. And I’ll try to take full advantage of the draw and try to go all the way again.
“He is getting better every time he steps out on to the track. He is only a little colt but the more work we bore into him the more he seems to improve. I was really happy with his track work yesterday (Tuesday) and he’ll run a really good race on Friday.”
Dourado began from barrier six and raced three wide early before dashing to the front in a 1684m event at Pinjarra on Monday of last week. He rated 1.57.9 and won by a half-length from Velocipede.
Velocipede, trained by Gary Hall Snr, will start from barrier six in Friday night’s event. Stablemate Hes Never Been Beta will start from the No. 7 barrier, and Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a strong lead by choosing to handle him in preference to Velocipede, who will be driven by Stuart McDonald.
Hes Never Been Beta notched his second win from four starts when he made most of the running and defeated Tommy Carta by almost six lengths over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
“There is not much between Velocipede and Hes Never Been Beta,” said Hall Jnr. “Velocipede sat outside Dourado at Pinjarra and went down by a half-length. I think Hes Never Been Beta is better equipped to breeze. And I think he can sit outside Dourado and beat him. Velocipede is probably going to sit up as we try to get him to relax.”
And here are De Campo’s thoughts on his other main chances:
Machnificent: Barrier five; race six: I drove him for the first time last week (when he was blocked for a run until late and then charged home, six wide, to finish fifth behind Rascal) and I thought he was super. He really impressed me. He didn’t have much luck and he hit the line strongly. He will need some luck from the barrier, but his final 400m is deadly, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he finishes close up.
Dominus Factum: Barrier seven; race two: He is down in grade and can improve quite a lot. His trackwork has been good and I expect him to run a really good race. The mile (1730m) suits him; the gate speed inside him doesn’t, so I’ll have to play it by ear.”
Sport Sport Sport: Barrier three; race ten: It’s an even field and I think she’s up to them. She has raced a lot better at her past four starts (for two wins and two placings).
Rockstar Rebel: Barrier ten; race 11: A perfect draw for him, and if he gets the splits, he’ll be a good chance.