Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
New Zealand-bred four-year-old My Ultimate Baxter, a winner of five races in Queensland and four in New South Wales and a placegetter in Victoria, looks set for a win at his first start in Western Australia when he contests the opening event, the 2130m Hoist Torque Australia Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
My Ultimate Baxter, a winner at nine of his 20 starts, is prepared by Debra Lewis and is ideally drawn at barrier No. 2 at his first appearance for six months.
The Sweet Lou gelding has not been produced in trials, but he should be close to his peak, with Mrs Lewis showing her great ability to have her pacers in prime condition for first-up efforts. In the past couple of weeks she has produced Robbie Easton and Goodfellaz for superb victories when racing first-up after a spell.
My Ultimate Baxter, who will be handled by champion reinsman Chris Lewis, will be having his first start since he raced in the one-out, one-back position and faded to finish last in a 2300m event at Menangle on February 18 this year.
At his previous appearance, eleven nights earlier, he began out wide at barrier eight, was restrained at the start and charged home from the rear to win easily from Alta Equus at a 1.52.1 rate over 1609m at Menangle.
The highlight of his career was when he won the $50,000 group 2 Simpson Memorial for three-year-olds over 1609m at Menangle in January 2022. He raced three back on the pegs before finishing powerfully to beat the hot favourite My Ultimate Byron by a length, rating 1.50.9.
My Ultimate Baxter’s racing characteristics have been his strong finishing bursts, and it is certainly problematic whether he will be able to lead, opposed to fast beginners Lamandier (barrier one), Peligroso (three) and Ultimate Rocker (four).
Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a good lead by choosing to drive the Michael Young-trained Lamandier ahead of High Price, October Reign and Major Freeway. Stuart McDonald will drive the Hall senior-trained High Price, Maddison Brown will handle recent winner October Reign, and Busselton trainer Barry Howlett has engaged Deni Roberts to drive Major Freeway, who was a sound first-up second to All Is Well at Bunbury on Wednesday of last week after racing without cover.
Chris Lewis has chosen to drive Rodasi in preference to stablemate Major Overs in the 2130m HTA Setting New Standards In Hoisting Pace. Rodasi will start from the prized No. 1 barrier, while Major Overs will start out wide at barrier seven.
Four-year-old Rodasi disappointed when he enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out, one-back position before wilting to eighth behind October Reign over 2130m last Friday week. He raced wide early and then without cover when a fighting winner over 2130m three starts earlier.
Lewis drove three-year-old Major Overs to an easy victory over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week. The Art Major gelding will be handled this week by Jocelyn Young.