Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Veteran trainer-reinsman Lindsay Harper agrees that Sugar Apple faces a stern test from the No. 4 barrier in the 2130m www.gloucesterpark.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night. But he is seriously contemplating making a concerted bid for the early lead.
“It’s not the perfect draw, but if he is able to lead, he will be hard to beat,” said Harper. “He needs to lead or race with cover. And if he can’t lead this week, I’ll go to Plan B and race him with a sit before sprinting home.
“He was good when I led with him (three starts ago) and won. But he was not suited when he raced in the breeze and finished fourth behind Adda Spoilt Major at his next start.”
Whether Sugar Apple will be able to get to an early lead is problematic, with smart beginners Ifeel Sikdarl, Joey James and Peligroso drawn to his inside.
If the six-year-old Ryan Bell-trained Peligroso is able to lead for Kyle Symington, he should prove the one to beat.
Chris Lewis has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive eight-year-old gelding The Kraken in preference to five-year-old Stereophonic in the WA Hall Of Fame Pace.
The Kraken, trained at Coolup by Dan Costello, has a losing sequence of 56, is a good frontrunner, and Lewis will be anxious to set the pace from the favourable No. 1 barrier.
The Kraken was a $71 outsider from the outside barrier (No. 9) in a 1730m event last Friday night when he raced three wide for much of the way and faded from third at the bell to finish a distant last in the field of eleven. A week earlier, he trailed the pacemaker Illawong Mustang and fought on to finish second to that pacer over 2130m when the final 400m sections were run in 27.9sec. 28.4sec.
“The Kraken is actually going alright,” said Lewis. “The draw will benefit him this week, and he can run okay.”
Lewis drove Stereophonic in a 2536m event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night when the Fly Like An Eagle gelding flew away at the start from out wide at barrier No. 8 and burst straight to the front before racing fiercely and wilting to finish third behind Alta Queen and Patrikiar.
“He got out good but was hitting a wheel and got keen, which didn’t help,” said Lewis. “He will go better over 2130m on Friday night than he did over 2536m on Tuesday night.”
Stereophonic, who led and won easily from Beyond Bling over 2130m two starts ago, will be driven by Jocelyn Young from out wide at barrier eight.
Friday night’s event looks particularly open, with several winning chances, including Machlani, Medieval Man, Spring Line and Marbeechsam.