Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Versatile seven-year-old Robbie Easton will reappear after an eight-month absence when he starts from the prized No. 1 barrier in the 1730m Team Bond Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred gelding, trained by Debra Lewis and to be driven by her husband Chris, is a proven frontrunner who meets moderate opposition and should prove hard to beat.
Robbie Easton’s main rivals appear to be Joe With The Flow (barrier two) and Manning (barrier two on the back line). Joe With The Flow, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Tony Hynam, possesses excellent gate speed and if he crosses Robbie Easton at the start and sets the pace, he should take plenty of catching.
Joe With The Flow showed encouraging signs at his third appearance after a spell when he began speedily from barrier four but was unable to cross Battlescard in a 1730m event last Friday week. He then raced without cover and fought on gamely to finish second to Cloud Nine when the final quarters were covered in 28.9sec. and 28.2sec.
Manning will be resuming for Blythewood trainer Corey Peterson after a four-month absence and he should put in a strong effort after a smart win in a four-horse trial over 2185m at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week when he raced three back on the pegs and finished strongly along the sprint lane to beat smart mare Doctor Catherine by a length, rating 1.59.5.
Manning, who won the $100,000 Pearl Classic for two-year-olds in June 2019, will be handled by Maddison Brown, who has driven the six-year-old for ten of his 15 wins.