Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Leading reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Youre So Fine in preference to Mr Fantastic in the Cowden Insurance Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Youre So Fine, a New Zealand-bred four-year-old trained by Gary Hall Snr, will start from the outside barrier in the field of nine, but he has the class to overcome this considerable disadvantage. He has resumed after a spell in splendid fashion with three starts resulting in three convincing victories to improve his record to eleven starts for six wins and three placings.
He finished strongly from fourth at the bell to win from Shell Shock and Speedwagon over 2130m on Monday, after setting the pace and winning very easily from Bitofdutchcourage the previous Monday.
Youre So Fine rises significantly in class this week when he clashes with better performed and more experienced pacers in Mr Fantastic (12 wins from 29 starts), Watts Up Sunshine (18 wins from 68 starts) and Whos The Dad (11 wins from 49 starts).
Hall drove the Justin Prentice-trained Mr Fantastic when the Bettors Delight gelding began brilliantly from barrier nine to burst straight to the front and then set the pace and dash over the final 800m in 57sec. to win from Master Publisher at a 1.57.2 rate over 2130m last Friday week.
Aiden De Campo will drive Mr Fantastic from barrier seven this week, and Mardella trainer Michael Young has engaged Maddison Brown to drive Watts Up Sunshine (barrier six).
In other events Hall chose to handle Henrik Larsson ahead of Master Publisher, Getn Wiggy Withit and Firerockfireroll in the Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace; Watching Our Coin ahead of Prince Of Pleasure in the Catalano Pace; and Rolling Fire ahead of Velocipede and Lucapelo in the Channel 7 Pace.
Henrik Larsson is trained by Luke Edwards and has been unplaced at his past four starts after setting the pace from barrier one and winning over 2536m at Gloucester Park on May 30. The six-year-old should again appreciate the No. 1 barrier and looks a strong chance against in-form pacers Master Publisher (Mitch Miller), Cloud Nine (Stuart McDonald) and Onesmartfella (Chris Voak).
Watching Our Coin, trained by Michael Young, and Prince Of Pleasure (prepared by Gary Hall Snr) are racing in wonderful form and their clash should be a highlight on the ten-event program.
Watching Our Coin has performed beyond expectations since arriving in WA from New Zealand late last year, with his eleven starts for Young producing seven wins, three seconds and one third placing. His past two appearances have been in stands, but he has proved to be an outstanding performer in mobiles.
Prince Of Pleasure has also excelled since arriving in WA where he has had 22 starts for 12 wins and five placings. He will be driven this week by Stuart McDonald and should take a power of beating judged on his brilliant victory in the Group 3 2536m Winter Cup last Friday night when he surged home from fourth at the bell and won from Patronus Star, with final quarters of 28.3sec. and 27.5sec.
Hall had little hesitation in selecting the Justin Prentice trained Rolling Fire, ahead of Velocipede and Lucapelo. Rolling Fire will start from the prized No. 1 barrier, and he has bright prospects of notching his eighth win from 13 starts.
Rolling Fire has not been extended in winning at his past two outings. He ran on from the rear to win, first-up, by six lengths over 2100m at Bunbury on July 12 before setting the pace and winning from Skylord and Cotton On at a 1.55.8 rate over 2130m at Gloucester Park nine nights later.
His toughest rival this week is likely to be the Katja Warwick-trained All Is Well (Chris Lewis) who is in brilliant form with his past seven starts producing five wins and two close second placings.