Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Placings at his past two starts are indications that Rockandrollartist is close to winning form and ending a losing sequence of eight.
But trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo is cautionary optimistic about the gelding’s prospects when he begins from the prime No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Smooth FM Perth On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a nice horse but is just not going at the moment,” said De Campo. “His work suggests he should just win, but he hasn’t been taking it to the track. He should lead without getting much pressure, and I reckon if he takes his trackwork to the races he should win.”
Rockandrollartist was the $1.60 favourite at Gloucester Park three Tuesdays ago when he dashed to an early lead and set the pace before being beaten by a nose by Gov Starzzz. And a week earlier he trailed the pacemaker and finished a close third behind Rupert Of Lincoln and My Ultimate Chevron.
Last-start winners Robbie Easton and Spicey Major loom as the hardest for Rockandrollartist to beat. Robbie Easton, an eight-year-old trained by Debra Lewis and driven by her husband Chris, ended a losing sequence of 15 when he set the pace and withstood strong pressure from Frankie J Holden to win from that pacer over 2130m on Wednesday of last week. Robbie Easton is handily drawn at barrier No. 2.
Four-year-old Spicey Major is a newcomer to the stables of star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr who will be making his first appearance in Western Australia after having 34 starts in Victoria for six wins, eight placings and $44,790.
He was a winner at his final start in Victoria when he contested an unusual one-lap dash over 1200m at Melton on September 28. He began from barrier two in a field of seven and took the lead after 100m before winning easily by more than two lengths from Sports Wrack, rating 1.51.5, with quarters of 26.5sec., 28.7sec. and 28sec.
Spicey Major’s previous win was five starts earlier when he began speedily from barrier six, dashed to the front after 250m and went on to beat Illawong Danny by four lengths, rating 1.59.5 over 2080m at Cranbourne.
“He is working in good style and should go okay,” said Hall. Spicey Major will start from barrier six in the field of eight, in which the widest runner is Mikis Pride, the youngest and least experienced runner.
Mikis Pride is a three-year-old trained by Mike Reed and has a record of eight starts for one win and two placings from eight starts.
“It’s tough from out there but his form is a lot better than it looks,” said Reed. “He is a three-year-old against older horses but if they run along, they will know he’s there.”