Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New South Wales-bred mare Machs Legacy’s most recent success was 484 days ago, but she is ready to end a losing sequence of 19 by taking full advantage of the prized No. 1 barrier by setting the pace and winning the $30,000 Sky Racing Listen Live Coulson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The five-year-old, trained and driven by Jocelyn Young, reappeared after a five-month absence when she was the solitary runner on the back line in a 2185m event at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.
She raced without cover for much of the first lap and was sixth at the bell before fighting on determinedly to finish third behind Artistic Scribe and Sporting Grace.
Machs Legacy showed her liking for leading at her West Australian debut early in April this year when she set the pace from the No. 3 barrier and finished second to Miss Boudica, who rated a smart 1.55 over 2130m.
Her most recent success was when she led from barrier three and beat In Shoobees Shoes by seven and a half lengths, rating 1.54.1 over 1720m at Penrith on September 1, 2022. She has been a most consistent performer, having raced 51 times for seven wins, 18 seconds and four thirds. She has started from No. 1 four times but has yet to win from the inside barrier.
Talented sit-sprinter Mighthavtime looms large as a strong contender on Friday night. The Greg and Skye Bond-trained four-year-old will be driven by Deni Roberts from the No. 3 barrier and should settle in a favourable forward position.
Mighthavtime impressed with a stylish four-length victory over the fast-finishing Alta Queen over 2130m last Friday night when she rated 1.57.3. She raced in sixth position, one-out and two-back, before running home powerfully.
Alta Queen, trained by Chris King, was eighth at the bell and her strong finish was a firm indication that she should be prominent in Friday night’s event in which she has drawn out wide at barrier seven.
Queeninthecorner (barrier four) and Sovrana (five) possess excellent gate speed and are likely to come out with all guns blazing.
The Mike Howie-trained Artistic Scribe maintained her excellent form when she raced without cover before wining from Sporting Grace and Machs Legacy over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week when she rated 1.56.6.
Artistic Scribe also raced in the breeze when a winner over Patrikiar at Gloucester Park two starts before that. However, she will be tested on Friday night when she starts from the outside of the back line.