Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Mundijong horseman Michael Young has enjoyed spectacular success with 107 winners in his third season as a trainer this year, and his six runners at Gloucester Park on Friday night are sure to be popular with punters.
He labelled Moonlite Drive as his best winning prospect after the New Zealand-bred gelding drew the coveted No. 1 barrier in the $20,375 The Trots WA Pace over 2130m.
“Hopefully, he has the speed to lead,” he said. “He is ready to win, and he will win if he can hold up. He is still an each-way chance if he gets crossed; he’s my best chance on the night.”
Moonlite Drive will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr, who said: “He will probably lead and prove hard to beat. It’s a competitive race in which Ima Rockabilly Rebel and Machnificent are good sit-sprinters.”
Young expects his two runners, Cooper and Orlando Blue, to be prominent in the Retravision Handicap, a 2503m standing-start event. Cooper will be driven by Maddison Brown and will start from the inside barrier on the front line, while Hall will drive Orlando Blue from the 10m mark.
“Orlando Blue is getting somewhere near back to his best, while Cooper is not without claims,” said Young.
Orlando Blue was most impressive last Friday night when he was trapped wide early before being restrained back to the rear in the 2130m group 2 Christmas Gift. He was eleventh at the bell before running home strongly to finish a close-up sixth behind Firerockfireroll.
Major dangers to Orlando Blue and Cooper appear to be Strauny, Aussie Scooter and Master Yossi.
The Peter Tilbrook-trained Strauny is racing with great heart and looks certain to fight out the finish. He had a tough run in the breeze when a fighting third behind Strike Team and Wait For The Bell over 1730m last Friday night. That performance followed excellent winning efforts at Gloucester Park (2536m) and Pinjarra (2631m) at his two previous outings.
“Strauny was super last start,” said his driver Chris Voak. “He steps good (from the stand), and I’ll be keen to lead. He was very good last week when the winner rated 1.54.1.”
Aussie Scooter, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, finished full of running to win a 2503m stand from Orlando Blue and Cooper last Friday week, and he has excellent prospects again this week when he will start off the 10m mark.
His stablemate Master Yossi was an excellent first-up fourth behind Aussie Scooter a fortnight ago when he finished powerfully from tenth and last at the bell. His driver Dylan Egerton-Green said: “He will be fitter after that run, and I expect him to be hitting the line strongly.”
Egerton-Green is also looking forward to driving the Bond-trained Himself, who will start from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m $1 Million Nullarbor April 14 Pace.
Himself, who charged home from the rear to win the group 1 Golden Nugget over 2536m last Friday week, is expected to be seen in a vastly different role this week when Egerton-Green plans to attempt an all-the-way victory.
“His run in the Nugget was very good,” said Egerton-Green. “Hopefully, he should be able to lead, and lead all the way. There’s gate speed to his outside, with Jaspervellabeach and Handsandwheels. But Himself is no slouch. He knows what he is doing, and he’ll run the gate.”
While Voak is enthusiastic about Strauny’s winning prospects in the Retravision Handicap, he also is bullish about the chances of Onesmartfella in the opening event on the program and Sangue Reale in race two.
Onesmartfella, trained by Jemma Hayman, was a convincing first-up winner last Friday night when he was untroubled to set the pace and beat Mirragon and Vulcan Star at a 1.56.5 rate over 1730m. He will again start from the prized No. 1 barrier in this week’s 2130m event.
“It’s a perfect draw and the extra distance shouldn’t be any concern,” said Voak. “He controlled the race last week and won with something in reserve. Now he gets the chance to repeat the dose.”
Sangue Reale will start from the No. 4 barrier in the 1730m Retravision NYE at Gloucester Park Pace, and he has bright prospects, following his splendid fourth behind Sugar Street over 2536m last Friday week when he started from the outside of the back line, raced three wide early and then worked hard in the breeze.
“He sat in the breeze and ran the final 800m in 55.8sec.,” said Voak. “His recent sectional times have been exceptional, and he is right into this race.”