Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Outstanding young driver Emily Suvalkjko has given punters a valuable lead by opting to handle Elsamay in preference to Make Your Mark in the opening event, the 2130m Elan Energy Pace for three-year-old fillies at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
She has been the regular driver of both fillies, but was happy to choose the John Graham-trained Elsamay ahead of the Sarah Wall-trained Make Your Mark, a filly she had driven to victory at Narrogin three starts ago and at her following two starts at Gloucester Park for a third to Catch The Red Eye and a sixth behind Wonderful To Fly in the group 2 Diamond Classic last Friday night.
Elsamay will start from the No. 1 barrier, with Make Your Mark, to be driven by Chris Voak, favourably drawn at barrier two.
“Elsamay is not blessed with great gate speed, but in this preparation, she is getting out a lot better,” said Suvaljko. “If she could land on the leader’s back it probably would be a good spot for her.
“She is a nice sit and kick horse who went 1.56.7 at her second start (behind Navy Street over 1684m at Pinjarra last August). She has been stuck in the breeze at her past two starts (for a close second to Northern Gaze at Wagin and a well-beaten third behind smart pacers Goodfellaz and Noted at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week).
“This is a big step up for her, but I think she will keep improving. She is no certainty but will run a really good race. If the pressure is on, she will be right there at the finish.”
Suvaljko is also looking forward to driving star mare Savvy Bromac in the 1730m Devoted Healthcare Rotary Club of Fremantle Free-For-All. The Nathan Turvey-trained five-year-old will start from the outside barrier in the field of seven.
“It’s a race with a lot of speed, and hopefully we’re the last man standing,” she said. “Savvy Bromac is racing really well. It’s an awkward draw, and if the pace is a cracker she can win.”
Suvaljko also gives Medieval Man (race nine) and Bracken Sky (race six) sound each-way prospects.