Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding driver Deni Roberts thought long and hard before choosing to handle Patronus Star in preference to his stablemate Tenzing Bromac in the $31,000 The Trots WA Pace over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond have Patronus Star and Tenzing Bromac racing in superb form, and the decision made by Roberts has given punters a strong lead.
Tenzing Bromac, who will start from the outside barrier in the field of six, will be handled by Dylan Egerton-Green, and he is certainly capable of winning. He was driven by Roberts last Friday night when he raced wide early and then in the breeze when a fighting close-up second to Watching Our Coin over 2130m. He also raced without cover before winning from Kimble at his previous start.
Patronus Star, a winner at 15 of his 54 starts, has set the pace and won six times at Gloucester Park. But since graduating to open-class company he has thrived when used in a sit-sprint capacity.
He began from the No. 5 barrier and was restrained back to last in the 2536m Winter Cup last Friday week before being sent forward 1350m from home and racing in the breeze and then finishing with great determination to be a wonderful second to Prince Of Pleasure.
“He was awesome,” said Roberts.
Tenzing Bromac also gave a wonderful performance last Friday night when he finished a close second to the pacemaker Watching Our Coin after racing three wide for the first 420m and then working hard in the breeze.
Looming as a serious rival to Patronus Star and Tenzing Bromac is the Justin Prentice-trained Mighty Ronaldo, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from the No. 2 barrier. This will be the five-year-old’s first appearance for four months.
Mighty Ronaldo warmed up for his return to racing in fine style with a smart win in a 2100m trial at Bunbury on Tuesday of last week. He raced three back on the pegs before Hall took him to the front with a lap to travel, and he sped over the final quarters in 27.2sec. and 28.4sec. when he beat Henwood Bay by two lengths, rating 1.59.
“It was a very good trial,” said Hall, who has driven Mighty Ronaldo to five of his eleven wins.
Roberts also has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Street Hawk in preference to the Bond-trained stablemates Peter Petrify and Raven Banner in the 2536m Steelos Open Every Race Meeting Pace.
Street Hawk, who will start from the No. 3 barrier, had a tough run in the breeze last Friday week when a fighting second to Master Yossi. He showed his talent as a frontrunner four starts earlier when he scored an easy victory over Tricky Miki in the group 3 Preux Chevalier Pace.
Roberts has driven Peter Petrify at his past ten starts for six wins, including the Higgins Memorial last Friday night when he finished strongly to beat Paul Edward. Peter Petrify will start from the No. 1 barrier with Dylan Egerton-Green in the sulky. Kyle Symington will drive stylish last-start winner Raven Banner from the No. 4 barrier.