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Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

Outstanding young driver Emily Suvalkjko was impressed with Distinguished Taste’s easy all-the-way win over 2130m on Tuesday of last week, and she is bullish about the New Zealand-bred five-year-old’s prospects of repeating the dose when he contests the Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Distinguished Taste, prepared by Bunbury trainer John Graham, led from the No. 5 barrier last week, and he will start from the No. 6 barrier on Friday night when Suvaljko will be aiming to set him alight early in a bid for the lead.

“He is going really well, and we will be trying to find the front,” said Suvaljko. “That’s where he races best. He’s got quirks but is a very nice horse and is improving with racing.”

Ima Rockabilly Rebel, to be driven by Ryan Warwick for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, looms large as the horse for Distinguished Taste to beat. He will start from the No. 4 barrier and Warwick will be anxious to settle the New Zealand-bred four-year-old in front of Distinguished Taste.

In a 2536m event last Friday night Ima Rockabilly Rebel was restrained at the start from the No. 5 barrier and settled down in ninth position before Deni Roberts gained the favourable one-out, two-back position in sixth place before sending him forward, three wide, at the 700m. He sprinted strongly to win by a head from the pacemaker The Code Breaker. He ran the final 400m sections in 27.5sec. and 28.2sec.

The Bonds and Warwick also have bright prospects of winning with Unconditional and Dont Bother Me None in races six and seven, respectively.

Unconditional gave a splendid frontrunning performance when second to stablemate Boora, who rated a smart 1.54.6 over 2130m last Friday night. She will start from barrier four over 2130m this week and will be favoured to beat the improving The Tiger Army.

Emily Suvaljko, who will handle The Tiger Army, is looking forward for a strong showing from the Michael Young-trained Vespa in the 2130m Rent A Gen Pace. “He is well drawn at barrier two and we will be having a crack for the front,” said Suvaljko.