Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Soho Dow Jones was a $61 outsider when he finished fifth behind Mister Smartee in the Past President’s Cup at Gloucester Park last Friday night, and it was an effort which impressed his trainer Kim Prentice.
The five-year-old, driven by Mitch Miller, began from barrier five and he raced four back on the pegs before being eased off the inside at the bell and was sixth at the 600m before finishing solidly, out three and four wide.
“He will go really, really good on Friday night (in which he has drawn barrier one in the 2130m TABtouch Share My Bet Free-For-All),” said an upbeat Prentice.
“He has been going super and he hit the line strongly last week. His work since has been good and Mitch will be aiming to lead. Last week he came from near last and was beaten only a couple of lengths when they went sub1.55.”
Steel The Show (barrier four) and Sangue Reale (the solitary runner on the back line) loom large as the toughest rivals for Soho Dow Jones.
The Greg and Skye Bond-trained Steel The Show has been unplaced at his past six starts, mainly from wide draws, and star driver Deni Roberts is looking for a strong showing on Friday night.
“Steel The Show hasn’t had a lot of favourable draws, and this week’s Free-For-All is a bit weaker than the other recent Free-For-Alls,” said Roberts.
Trainer-reinsman Chris Voak predicted a far better performance from Sangue Reale, following his well-beaten sixth behind Mister Smartee in a field of eight last Friday night when he began speedily and set a brisk pace before fading over the final 400m.
“That run was very disappointing,” said Voak. “He will be a much better horse this week. It’s a weaker field, and if he sees daylight he will be very hard to beat.”