Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Speedy pacer Jack Farthing will reappear after an eight-month absence when he begins from the No. 2 barrier in the 2130m Garrard’s Service With Integrity Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I’m hoping he will find the form he had when he was racing in the Cup races (in November and December 2020 when he finished fifth behind Chicago Bull in the Fremantle Cup),” said Boyanup trainer Justin Prentice.
“He was working in fantastic style last time in but wasn’t producing his best at the races. I am happy with his work at home, and he looks way better than he did during his previous preparation.”
Jack Farthing, a winner of 18 races, will be driven for the second time by Gary Hall Jnr, who handled the gelding at his West Australian debut in October 2020 when he sat behind the pacemaker Baylan Jett and ran on to win by a neck from Braeview Bondi.
Two of Jack Farthing’s main rivals loom large as the speedy mares Born To Boogie and Savvy Bromac.
Born To Boogie, to be driven by Chris Lewis for trainer Ross Olivieri, will start from the prized No. 1 barrier at her first outing since late last November. She warmed up in encouraging style when she set the pace in a four-horse 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week and was not extended in winning by a length from Argyle Red, rating a slow 2.0.3, but impressing with final quarters of 28.8sec. and 26.6sec.
Born To Boogie, a winner at four of her 26 starts in New Zealand, has been a revelation with her ten WA starts producing seven wins and three seconds.
Emily Suvaljko will handle Savvy Bromac from barrier five for trainer Nathan Turvey. She enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position for much of the way when a fighting second to Bettor Get It On in the 2536m Empress Stakes last Friday week.
“She was a little below her best in the Empress Stakes,” said Suvaljko. “However, she’s working well. There are a few nice ones drawn on our inside, so I’d say we will be driving her to use her speed (as a sit-sprinter).”
Another mare, the Barry Howlett-trained My Prayer has impressed with several recent promising efforts, and she will have admirers. She is awkwardly drawn at barrier six and will be handled by Jocelyn Young, who will replace Mitchell Miller, who has opted to drive evergreen veteran Vultan Tin.
Vultan Tin, who boosted his earnings past the $1 million mark when he won the Narrogin Cup last Saturday night, faces a stern test from the outside barrier (No. 9), but cannot be left out of calculations.