Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Eight-year-old mare Heavenly Gipsy reappeared after a spell three Fridays ago when she was a rank outsider at $151 on the tote, and finished ninth behind Little Darling in the 2536m Empress Stakes.
But there was an excuse for her failure, and her trainer Michael Young predicts she will prove hard to beat when she begins from the prized No. 1 barrier in the $50,000 WASBA Breeders Stakes over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“Heavenly Gipsy was having her first run after a spell when she started from the outside of the back line in the Empress Stakes,” said Young. “And she was nearly going to win before she broke at the top of the straight. She was just joining in and was definitely going to run top three, and I think she was going to win.”
Since then, Heavenly Gipsy contested a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week when she set the pace and finished a 2m second to Sweet Pins, rating1.58, with final quarters of 28sec. and 26.8sec.
“Heavenly Gipsy rated 1.54.7 when she won over 2130m last July when she beat Arma Einstein and Magnificent Storm,” said Young. “If she reproduces that form, they won’t beat her this week.”
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond hold a strong hand in Friday night’s event, with Aardiebytheseaside and Captainshavtime sure to be among the major players. Deni Roberts will drive Aardiebytheseaside, who will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line, while Kyle Symington will drive Captainshavtime from the favourable No. 2 barrier on the front line.
Aardiebytheseaside notched her 23RD win at her 50TH start when she settled down in sixth place in a 2130m Free-For-All for mares last Friday week in which Captainshavtime burst straight to the front from out wide at barrier No. 8 and set the pace before finishing third, just behind the second placegetter Copy Cat Queen, who ran home fast when the final 400m was covered in a slick 27.3sec.
“Aardiebytheseaside has a good draw, and she should get a nice trail early and race not too far from the leaders and within striking distance,” said Roberts.
Copy Cat Queen should settle down in a prominent position after starting from barrier three for trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo, and she should fight out the finish.
Gary Hall Jnr has chosen to drive Fakenit (barrier six) in preference to Sweet Coco, who will start from out wide at barrier No. 9 with Maddison Brown in the sulky.
Roberts and the Bond stable have high hopes of winning the $35,000 Narrogin Cup over 2662m on Saturday night with Gee Heza Sport, who will start from the outside barrier (No. 4) on the back line.
This will be Gee Heza Sport’s first appearance since he raced at the rear and finished 11TH in the 2936m Fremantle Cup last Friday week. At his previous outing he was an excellent first-up third behind Minstrel and Mighty Ronaldo over 2130m at Gloucester Park on March 20.