Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Ace reinsman Chris Voak is on the crest of an exciting wave, and he is looking forward driving the brilliant six-year-old Pinny Tiger in the $50,000 Bunbury Cup on March 30.
Pinny Tiger, trained by Michael Brennan, will contest an important lead-up event for the Cup when he starts from the No. 6 barrier in the $23,000 Entertainment With Horsepower Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“I haven’t spoken to Mouse (Brennan) yet regarding tactics, so I’m undecided what we will do at this stage,” said Voak, who has driven 36 winners this season and is second behind Shannon Suvaljko (40) on the WA drivers’ premiership table.
“Pinny Tiger is firing out of the gate quicker than ever. Compared when I drove him in his previous preparation, he is much sharper out of the mobile.”
Pinny Tiger began from the inside of the back line in the 2692m Pinjarra Cup last Monday week when he finished third behind the brilliant frontrunning Minstrel. He raced three back on the pegs in fifth position before running home along the sprint lane.
“He overraced a little too much in the middle stages, and I think that cost him a little late,” said Voak. “I reckon he would’ve run second if he had settled.”
Ten days before the Pinjarra Cup Pinny Tiger was an easy winner at a 1.56.1 rate over 2130m at Gloucester Park when he began brilliantly from the No. 6 barrier and relished his pacemaking role to beat Franco Ecuador by a length after sprinting over the final 800m in 55.2sec.
Pinny Tiger rated 1.55.3 over 2130m when he led from the No. 1 barrier and beat Tiger Royal by four and a half lengths, with a final 800m of 55.1sec. four starts ago.
There is plenty of gate speed on the inside of Pinny Tiger on Friday night, with veteran Jack Farthing (barrier two) and Jaspervellabeach (barrier four) each possessing sparkling early pace.
Nine-year-old Jack Farthing is now trained by Craig Abercromby and will be driven by Kyle Symington at his first start for 13 months. Jack Farthing set the pace and won a three-horse 2190m trial at Northam last Saturday night, rating 1.58.3, with final quarters of 27.8sec. and 29.1sec.