Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
“With racing luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if he knocks them off,” declared star reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green when assessing the prospects of up-and-coming four-year-old Star Casino in the $200,000 Retravision Golden Nugget at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And Egerton-Green is well qualified to predict the outcome of this glamorous group 1 feature event, having driven in this race four times for two desperately close seconds, one fifth and a thrilling victory last December when he brought $76.40 outsider Himself home with a withering burst of speed from the rear to beat Jumpingjackmac and rating 1.54 to set a race and track record for the 2536m journey.
He drove Mighty Conqueror when he finished a half-head second to Ana Malak in 2018, and the following year he set the pace with Patrickthepiranha, who was beaten by a short half-head by Shockwave.
In the 2021 Golden Nugget Egerton-Green finished fifth with Howard Hughes behind Minstrel, who beat Magnificent Storm by a neck.
Magnificent Storm, trained by Ray Williams, is a stablemate of the New Zealand-bred Star Casino, who is favourably drawn at barrier No. 2 in Friday night’s big race.
“It’s a nice draw and the distance shouldn’t be a problem,” said Egerton-Green. Star Casino has won twice over 2600m in New Zealand and has been successful over 2620m at Northam this year.
Star Casino, a winner of four races in New Zealand, possesses excellent gate speed and has impressed in WA, with his seven starts in the State producing three wins, two seconds (when beaten by a head both times) and two fourths.
He impressed two starts ago when he finished strongly from sixth at the bell to win the group 3 Four-Year-Old Championship over 2130m at Gloucester Park, beating Alcopony and Hoppys Way.
And then at his next appearance, in the 2130m group 2 Four-Year-Old Classic a fortnight ago, he sat behind the pacemaker Hoppys Way and ran home determinedly to finish fourth behind Wonderful To Fly.
“That was a bit of a driver error,” said Egerton-Green. “He should have run third instead of fourth. And the horse is improving with every run.”
Whether Star Casino will get to an early lead and set the pace is problematic, with smart beginner Soho Dow Jones ideally drawn at the No. 1 barrier.
Soho Dow Jones is prepared by Blythewood trainer Kim Prentice, who trained and drove Soho Tribeca for his Nugget victory over Nathans Courage and Chicago Bull in December 2016. Soho Tribeca and Soho Dow Jones were bred and are owned by Rob Watson.
Mitch Miller has driven Soho Dow Jones at his past 24 starts, and the gelding showed his liking for leading when he set the pace and notched a hat-trick of Gloucester Park wins in May and June this year.
Miller is on holidays in England, and Soho Dow Jones will be handled by Victorian horseman Mick Stanley, who trained and drove the pacer at his first ten starts, in Victoria for four wins and three placings.
Hoppys Way, trained by Mike Reed and to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko, is favourably drawn on the inside of the back line, and should be prominent following his splendid effort when he set the pace and was a half-head second to Wonderful To Fly in the 2130m Four-Year-Old Classic a fortnight ago.
He is a noted frontrunner, but Suvaljko said he was happy with the draw. “It’s a pretty good draw for him,” he said. “He should be two back or three back on the rails and should be able to relax there. He is versatile and has won heaps of races, sitting in.”
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Shane Young will be looking to obtain a suitable passage for the brilliant Wonderful To Fly, who is somewhat awkwardly drawn at barrier six. She flew home from three back on the pegs to snatch victory two weeks ago.
Wonderful To Fly, a winner at 30 of her 50 starts, will be attempting to become only the third mare to win the Golden Nugget, which was first run in 1981. The successful mares have been Countess Karla in 1999 and Libertybelle Midfrew in 2014.
Champion trainer Gary Hall Snr and star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr have won the Nugget with The Gold Ace in 2011 and Beaudiene Boaz in 2015, and they are hoping that Youre So Fine can overcome the significant disadvantage of starting from out wide at barrier No. 8.
Youre So Fine has won at eleven of his 21 starts and is capable of bucking the odds. The gelding gave a splendid performance when seventh behind Wonderful To Fly two weeks ago. He raced three wide for the first 600m and then was restrained back to last in the field of twelve before finishing with a resolute burst along the pegs.
“I considered that Youre So Fine produced the run of the race, and if he had drawn to lead this week, I would have declared him,” said Hall Jnr. “It is a very open and competitive race.”
Brilliant Sydney pacer My Ultimate Ronnie fared badly in the draw and will need to be at his best to overcome starting from the outside of the back line.
My Ultimate Ronnie disappointed at his WA debut two weeks ago when he was the $1.20 favourite and disappointed when he raced in the breeze before fading over the final 200m to finish ninth behind Wonderful To Fly. He will be handled by brilliant Sydney reinsman Cameron Hart, and the horse has pleased trainer Jarrod Alchin with his work over the past week.
An interesting runner on Friday night is former Victorian pacer Rubins Plight, an outstanding sit-sprinter who is capable of causing an upset.
Rubins Plight, to be driven by Stuart McDonald for Pinjarra trainer Michael George, will start from barrier four, with McDonald anxious to find as good trailing position soon after the start.
Rubins Plight warmed up for the Nugget in dashing style with a runaway victory in a 2150m Byford trial last Sunday week when he set the pace and was not extended in beating Follow The Dragon by seven lengths, rating 1.57.3.
“He has good ability and I’m sure he won’t disgrace himself,” said McDonald.
Two starts ago Rubins Plight raced at the rear and was eleventh with 550m to travel before charging home to finish second to Solesseo Matuca in the 2240m group 1 Vicbred Super Series final at Melton. He thundered home from last at the bell to win a semi-final of the classic from Solesseo Matuca the previous week.
Maddison Brown will drive the outstanding gelding Tricky Miki for trainer Justin Prentice, and Chris Voak will be handling Taking The Miki for trainer Jemma Hayman. Both pacers are racing keenly and are capable of causing an upset in a most intriguing event.