Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Mighthavtime broke through for her first West Australian success at her third appearance in the State when she finished with a powerful burst from eighth at the bell to win from the pacemaker Vintage Blu over 2130m last Friday night.
And she is sure to reveal her great versatility by beginning speedily from the No. 1 barrier and setting a fast pace in the $20,250 Steelo’s Restaurant Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mighthavtime won at her final appearance in New Zealand when she began fast from barrier four, trailed the pacemaker and surged home along the sprint lane to win easily at a 2.5.4 rate over 1750m on the grass track at Gore last February.
Four starts before that she won on the grass track at Wyndham when she revealed dazzling gate speed from the No. 7 barrier to charge straight to the front and then set the pace before winning by a nose from Netherton Franco, rating 1.59.5 over 1800m.
Mighthavtime, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, will be driven by Deni Roberts, and is likely to receive the most serious opposition from another New Zealand import in five-year-old Watching Our Coin, whose six starts in WA on South-West tracks for trainer Michael Young have produced three wins and three placings.
Watching Our Coin, to be handled by Gary Hall Jnr, raced wide early and then in the breeze before winning at a 1.55.7 rate over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday of last week. The final quarters were run in 27.4sec. and 28.7sec.
Hall will also be looking for another win from six-year-old Prince Of Pleasure, who will start from the No. 1 barrier in a field of six in the 1730m Bridge Bar Pace. Prince Of Pleasure led easily from barrier one in a 2130m event last Friday night when he strolled to victory over stablemate Finvarra.
Finvarra, to be driven by Stuart McDonald, raced without cover in last week’s event. He will start from barrier two this week when McDonald will have the option of racing in the breeze or taking a perfect trail behind the pacemaking Prince Of Pleasure.