Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
New Zealand bred four year old Blitzembye will make his first appearance in a stand when he begins off the back mark of 20 metres in the 2503m Jim Hand Hall Of Fame Inductee Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Bettors Delight gelding notched his eleventh win from 23 starts when he trailed the pacemaker Ragazzo Mach before finishing strongly to beat that pacer in a 2130m mobile event last Friday night.
“It’s hard to win off 20m,” said trainer Mike Reed. “But with stablemates Caveman and Ragazzo Mach starting in race four, a 2130m mobile, I didn’t want three runners in the same race. So, I opted for the stand.
“Blitzembye qualified to contest stand when he ran in a standing-start trial at Wanneroo in January. He got away like a rocket (and finished third in the field of seven), and when we stand him on the track, he gets away well.”
Also appearing in a stand for the first time will be Pontevivo, who will start from the inside of the front line at his second outing after a spell. The Alta Christiano gelding is trained by Jocelyn Young and will be driven by Young’s younger sister Madeliene.
“The barrier will help, but he will need the run (at his second start after a spell),” said Jocelyn Young.
Blitzembye’s chief dangers appear to be Middlepage, American Bullitt, Twobob Cracker and Yankee Lincoln.
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has decided to drive Jumpingjackmac in preference to evergreen superstar Chicago Bull in the 2536m Royal Force Hall Of Fame Inductee Pace.
Four year old Jumpingjackmac, a winner at 12 of his 22 starts, will begin from the No. 1 barrier, with nine year old Chicago Bull, a winner of 62 races, to be handled by Callan Suvaljko from barrier three.
Jumpingjackmac was the $1.50 favourite in a 2130m event last Friday night when he set the pace before fading to finish fifth in a field of six, with Magnificent Storm scoring a brilliant victory over Diego and Chicago Bull.
“I’ll stick with Jumpingjackmac,” said Hall. “Magnificent Storm was just too good last week when Jumpingjackmac pulled a bit and got his tongue over the bit. We can’t put a tongue tie on him because he resents them.
“I’ll try to lead again this week when Bully looks the obvious danger, from the draw and after his super run last week.”
Hall has given punters a lead by choosing to drive Scarlet Ribbon from barrier six in the 1730m Book Now For Xmas In July Pace, in preference to stablemate Acharne Girl (barrier three).
Scarlet Ribbon, unplaced at her seven starts in New Zealand, is unbeaten at her three starts in WA for champion trainer Gary Hall Snr. She finished with a spirited burst from the one-out, one-back position to get up and win from Cachinnation at a 1.57.7 rate at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.