Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Artful Major in preference to On The Back Foot in the opening event, the $21,000 Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
But Mardella trainer Michael Young remains firm in his conviction that On The Back Foot will lead from the No. 1 barrier and win the 2130m event for two-year-olds. Artful Major will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line.
Young has engaged Emily Suvaljko to drive On The Back Foot, a WA-bred gelding by Lazarus who possesses excellent gate speed.
“He had no luck at his last start and had to drag back to last (when, as an $81 outsider, he finished sixth behind Grevis and Vegas Strip over 1730m last Friday week),” said Young. “He ran the fastest last quarter (27.9sec.) in the field of twelve.
“We will be holding the front and giving him his chance.”
Artful Major, trained by Justin Prentice, will be making his first appearance for almost eight weeks — when he raced in the breeze and finished second to Vegas Strip over 1609m at Bunbury on August 1. He raced three back on the pegs before finishing strongly to win from Grevis over 2100m at Bunbury a fortnight earlier.
“I like the horse and his second to Vegas Strip was a good effort,” said Hall. “He should get a good run from barrier eleven.”
Artful Major and On The Back Foot are sure to meet plenty of opposition from Kabochon and Arma Believer, who fought out the finish of a 2185m event at Pinjarra on Monday of last week, with the Colin Brown-trained Arma Believer setting the pace from barrier three and winning by a length from Kabochon, who was restrained to last in the field of seven and was in fifth place with 250m to travel before charging home out wide on the track.
That was an impressive performance at Kabochon’s second appearance in a race. “He has a lot of ability, but this is only his third run,” said trainer-driver Madeliene Young. “I’m not sure how much gate speed he’s got, and I think he has a bit of toughness.”
Hall will rejoin forces with Michael Young when he handles Lamandier from barrier two in the Running Camel Pace over 2536m.
“Lamandier should lead and be hard to beat,” said Young. “The last time he led, he won easily (when he beat Lucapelo over 2536m five starts ago).