Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Smart four-year-old Last Hard Copy was in a skittish mood last Friday night when he blotted his copybook by breaking in the mobile score-up and being out of position at the start before dashing forward, out four wide, to take the lead after 400m following a hectic lead time of 35.5sec. He dropped out over the final 350m to finish ninth behind Chivalry.
Trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo took Last Hard Copy to the Pinjarra trials on Wednesday when the stallion was on his best behaviour in the score-up and at the start of a trial.
“He is a little horse who likes to play around a bit,” said De Campo. “His work on Tuesday morning was good, and I think he can make amends for his failure last week in what appears to be a winnable race for him.”
At his previous outing, a fortnight before last week’s race, Last Hard Copy overcame the disadvantage of beginning from the outside of the back line to score an easy victory over Ruby Lovera and Sugar Shake.
He settled down in seventh place before starting a three-wide dash after a lap to move to the breeze and then take the lead on the home turn.
Last Hard Copy will need to be at his top on Friday night to prove the master of his main dangers and last-start winners Ultimate Miki and When In Vegas.
Ultimate Miki, to be driven by Stuart McDonald for trainer Gary Hall Snr, has won at his two outings since resuming from a spell, and When In Vegas, to be driven by Deni Roberts for co-trainers Greg and Skye Bond, gave an outstanding performance to win over 1730m at Kellerberrin last Sunday week.
When In Vegas was having his first start for four months when he failed in an early bid for the lead and then travelled three wide for the entire event before winning by a head against modest opposition.
“It was good that he had such a hard run before racing at Gloucester Park,” said Roberts. “He has pulled up in good shape, and from barrier three on Friday night I’ll probably press forward.”
Opal Hunter, trained and driven by Robbie Williams, should appreciate a considerable drop in class when he begins from the inside of the back in the 2130m Book Into Steelo’s Tonight Pace.
He raced three back on the pegs and did not threaten danger when he finished eighth behind Golden Lode in the group 3 Allwood Stud Four and Five-Year-Old Championship last Friday night. Opal Hunter impressed a week earlier when he was seventh with 250m to travel before running home strongly out wide to finish second to the pacemaker Maximum Rock.
Opal Hunter will begin from the inside of the back line, leaving Williams with the task of easing off the pegs in plenty of time to figure in the finish. One of his chief rivals is expected to be Bettor Arcade, who is unfavourably drawn on the outside of the front line for trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo.