Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Punters at Gloucester Park on Friday night should take heed of the advice of outstanding trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo, who is confident of ending the ten-event program on a winning note with his lightly-raced four-year-old Frisky Styx in the 2536m Barbagallo Volvo Pace.
Frisky Styx notched his seventh win from 19 starts when he worked hard in the breeze before fighting on determinedly to beat Robbie Easton and Sugar Apple over 2130m on Tuesday of last week when he rated 1.56.3.
He is ideally drawn at barrier two on Friday night, with De Campo saying: “I think he should find the lead and looks very hard to beat. I’ll be disappointed if he leads and doesn’t get the job done.”
Frisky Styx will need to be on song because High Price (barrier four) has resumed after a spell in excellent style for Northam trainer Garry Sayers with three excellent strong-finishing efforts for two thirds and a fourth placing.
High Price will be driven by Stuart McDonald, who said the five-year-old was chasing the whole way when a last-start third to Insta Gator and The Beaudster.
McDonald also has good prospects in several other events, including Thomson Bay (race two) and Coney Island Lou (race three).
Thomson Bay, trained by Hayden Reeves, is favourably drawn at barrier No. 1 in the 2130m Barbagallo Maserati Pace, with McDonald saying: “He goes best in front, and he has the draw and the gate speed to hold everything.”
Thomson Bay, an all-the-way winner from barrier one two starts ago, is likely to find promising five-year-old Brickies Dream (trained and driven by Robbie Williams) the hardest to beat. Brickies Dream, a winner at nine of his 27 starts, resumed after a spell in fine style when he ran home strongly from 12TH and last in the middle stages to finish sixth behind Acuto over 1730m last Friday night.
Coney Island Lou, trained by Gary Hall Snr, will be making his first appearance after an eleven-week absence when he begins from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the $23,000 Barbagallo Jaguar Pace over 2130m. He has shown promise with seven wins from 22 starts.
“Coney Island Lou’s second to Pinny Tiger in a trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week was super,” said McDonald. “I imagine that the plan will be to lead, and if he goes up to his trial form, he should go close.”
Pinny Tiger rated 1.55.5 in winning the 2185m three-horse trial by a length from Coney Island Lou, with final quarters of 28.4sec. and 26.8sec.
Toughest for Coney Island Lou to beat should be his stablemate and 2023 WA Derby winner Skylou, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr.