Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising teenage reinsman Liam Elliott will be a seeking a notable hat-trick when he handles six-year-old Swagger Man from the outside of the back line in the $21,000 Interdominion Winner Ultimate Sniper Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Eighteen-year-old Elliott has driven Swagger Man for trainer Ryan Bell at his past two outings, for wins at Bunbury last Saturday week and at Gloucester Park last Friday night (when that gave him his first metro-class driving success).
“Barrier 12 is a good draw for Swagger Man because he is at his best when you don’t use him early, as he proved last week when he came from well back to win,” said Bell. “He can win again.”
Swagger Man’s main rival is likely to be My Watchlist, a lightly-raced six-year-old prepared by Gary Hall Snr, who faces a tough assignment from out wide at barrier No. 8, with Gary Hall Jnr in the sulky.
Hall Jnr has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive My Watchlist in preference to stablemate Blameitonthenight, who will be driven by Maddison Brown from out wide at barrier seven.
“This is a wide-open race,” said Hall. My Watchlist had no luck when tenth behind Mikis Pride over 1730m last Friday night when he began from barrier seven and was trapped four wide early before being restrained to the rear. The previous week My Watchlist raced in the breeze when a fighting third behind Feeling Aces and Dark Eyes.
Elliott, who has driven 47 winners, has sound prospects with the Bell-trained Whataretheodds (race three) and Lady Mermaid (race nine).
Whataretheodds will start from barrier four in the $23,000 Michael Holtham Pace over 2130m and is capable of a bold showing at his sixth outing in his current campaign. He drops in class after fighting on from sixth at the bell to finish fourth behind Talks Up A Storm last Friday week. That followed sound efforts when placed at two of his three previous starts.
“Whataretheodds hasn’t been finding the line like he should, but he has been consistent,” said Bell. “It’s a tricky draw (No. 4) and I think he is at his best when you don’t use him early. Dark Eyes looks like he will be hard to beat.”
Dark Eyes is one of three runners in the race who are trained by Mike Reed. Dark Eyes will be driven by Shannon Suvaljko from barrier three, with his stablemates Quinton (barrier five) and Flying Rumour (barrier six) also racing well and with sound prospects.
Quinton, who won twice at Gloucester Park in May, will be handled by Tom Nally, while Toby Lynn will drive Flying Rumour.
“Dark Eyes went well when he led and finished third behind No Noney and Blaze On last Friday night but will find it hard to lead this week with Haveyoumetted drawn on his inside,” said Reed.
Quinton also has been racing consistently, with his past five starts, all at Gloucester Park, having produced two wins and three third placings. However, Reed fancies Flying Rumour as the stable’s best winning chance.
“I was happy with Flying Rumour’s seventh behind Paul Edward last Friday night when he couldn’t get a clear run, and if he had he would have been hard to beat.”