Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Seven-year-old Sweet Lou gelding Classic Choice drops significantly in class when he begins from the No. 2 barrier in the 1730m Westral Meshlock Security Doors Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — and star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko is confident of victory with the pacer who has been unplaced at his past eight starts.
A win would give part-owner Debbie Padberg her 600TH training success in an outstanding career.
Suvaljko and Padberg have enjoyed a long and successful association, with Padberg’s most successful pacer Salliwood having had 88 starts for her for 13 wins, 30 placings and stakes of $220,430. Suvaljko drove Salliwood to ten of those victories.
Suvaljko also drove Bad Round to nine of his 12 wins for Padberg and won at four of Bracken Sky’s nine wins for Padberg.
Classic Choice was slightly disappointing when he dashed to the front after 250m and set a solid pace before fading to finish sixth behind Dominus Factum over 2130m last Friday night.
“He drops in class this week and 1730m is his favourite distance,” said Suvaljko. “And from barrier two Classic Choice should lead and prove hard to beat.”
Toughest for Classic Choice to beat appears certain to be Arma Xfactor, who will start from the No. 5 barrier for Maddison Brown, who will drive the five-year-old for her father Colin. Arma Xfactor has managed one placing from six starts in his current campaign, but he should appreciate a drop in class.
Suvaljko will drive veteran pacer Feeling Aces in the opening event, the 2130m Go One Better With Westral Pace, on Friday night, but said that the seven-year-old faced a tough assignment from the No. 6 barrier despite causing a major upset as a $101 outsider when he trailed the pacemaker Pinny Tiger and finished strongly to fail by a head to beat that brilliant open-class performer in the Narrogin Cup last Saturday night.
“It is a tricky draw for Feeling Aces but he should be able to run a good race,” said Suvaljko. “He can sit on speed and still have a kick. I’ll be looking for a spot with him, and the faster they go, the better he will go.”