Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Veteran Coolup trainer Frank Nafranec has smart two-year-old Reinette racing in splendid form and the filly has excellent prospects of turning the tables on Highview Heidi when they clash in the $35,000 Westral Gold Bracelet over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Reinette was gallant in defeat last Friday night when she began smartly from the No. 6 barrier but was forced to work hard in the breeze before getting to the front 400m from home and then finishing second to Highview Heidi, who raced in the one-out, one-back position before dashing to the front with 350m to travel.
This week Reinette is favourably drawn at barrier two, with Highview Heidi at barrier No. 4. Trent Wheeler is expected to take advantage of the draw and Reinette’s good gate speed in a bid to set the pace.
The polemarker Allizee, to be driven by Kyle Harper for trainer Bruce Lovett, also has good gate speed but has managed only two third placings from four starts.
Chris Voak, who drives Highview Heidi for Bunbury owner-trainer Paul Strachan, has been impressed with the filly’s strong finishing efforts to win convincingly at her past two starts, both over 1730m at Gloucester Park.
“Highview Heidi went really well last week,” said Voak. “Once again, Reinette looks the biggest danger, and she has the barrier advantage.”
Ryan Warwick, who has won the Gold Bracelet with Spirit Of Navajo in 2005, Apache Sunrise in 2007 and Dodolicious in 2015, will handle Diamondsareforever for trainer Luke Edwards.
Diamondsareforever finished solidly from sixth at the bell when third behind Highview Heidi and Reinette last Friday night. That followed a fast-finishing four-length victory over 1684m at Pinjarra at her previous start. Diamondsareforever will begin from the No. 6 barrier.
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green will be looking for improvement from Purely Pandemic, who has finished second at her first two starts. She trailed the pacemaker Como El Viento and ran home solidly along the sprint lane when second to that talented colt at Pinjarra on Monday of last week.