Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
West Australian-bred five-year-old Joey James was a $101 outsider last Friday night when he impressed in running home strongly from ninth at the bell to be third behind the talented Tenzing Bromac in a fast-run 1730m sprint.
At Gloucester Park on Friday night this week he will return to standing-start racing when he begins off the front line in the 2503m Cowdens Insurance Handicap — and Birchmont trainer Brad Lynn is confident that the gelding will set the pace and emerge triumphant.
“He is a fast beginner in mobiles and stands,” said Lynn. “He flies away in stands and the plan is to jump to the front, lead and win. He is jumping out of his skin, and I couldn’t be happier with him.
“Tenzing Bromac rated 1.53.9, and Joey James came from the back of the field to finish third when he ran the fastest final 400m (27.7sec.) in the race. His run the previous week, when second to Cooper in a stand was very good.”
Joey James trailed the pacemaking Cooper before running home solidly to finish only one metre behind that pacer when the final quarters were run in 28.1sec. and 28.5sec. He has contested six standing-start events for two wins, a second, a third, a fourth and a sixth placing.
Master Yossi and Gee Smith, who will start off the 10m mark, and frontmarker Pontevivo are expected to be the toughest for Joey James to beat.
Master Yossi, to be driven by Ryan Warwick for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is a standing-start specialist, with his ten appearances in stands in WA resulting in six wins, a second, a fourth and two fourth placings.
Gee Smith continues to improve for Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, and he caught the eye last Friday night when he finished solidly from ninth at the bell to be third behind Always Fast and Rock Me Over in a 2130m mobile event.
Pinjarra trainer Kyle Anderson is confident that Al Guerrero will show improved form and prove hard to beat when he starts from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Taste Of WA This October Pace.
“He is cherry ripe and his work over the past week has been the best it has been in this preparation,” said Anderson. “He will go a lot better than when he led and finished third behind Plutonium two starts ago. I had been a bit soft with him.”
Kyle Harper will be anxious to use Al Guerroro’s excellent gate speed in a bid for an all-the-way victory. Much will depend on the start when Al Guerrero is likely to be challenged by recent winners and fast beginners Mirragon and Jaspervellabeach.
Emily Suvaljko will also be looking for an all-the-way win with the Shane Tognolini-trained eight-year-old mare Angel In White, who will start from the prized No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Book Now For Taste Of WA Free-For-All for mares.