Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Group 1 winners Mighty Conqueror and Patronus Star will attract considerable attention when they resume after spells and clash in the $30,000 Sky Racing Active Free-For-All over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
They are prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who will be aiming them for the $300,000 Fremantle Cup and the $450,000 WA Pacing Cup in January.
Ryan Warwick, who will drive Mighty Conqueror from the No. 3 barrier on Friday night, said: “They are both good enough to come to the races, but they’re going to need racing. I wouldn’t expect too much from them, first-up; they will improve in the next month.”
Seven-year-old Mighty Conqueror will be racing first-up for eight months, while five-year-old Patronus Star, an excellent frontrunner, will be having his first start for 15 weeks. He will start from the No. 4 barrier, with Deni Roberts in the sulky.
Brilliant five-year-old Magnificent Storm will start from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, and he should make amends for his second placing behind Gambit over 2130m last Friday night by overcoming the wide barrier and notching his 26TH win at his 35TH start.
The Bond stable will have many admirers, with the stable having nine runners. Five of the stablemates — Vulcan Star, Ideal Agent, Street Hawk, Aussie Scooter and Ima Rockabilly Rebel — have strong winning prospects.
Vulcan Star is favourably drawn at barrier two in the opening event, the 2130m Sky Racing Pace, and Warwick said: “He’s going quite well and is capable of leading.”
Outstanding trainer Michael Young and star reinsman Gary Hall Jnr should continue their highly successful association by winning the In The Gig Pace with the brilliant mare Eighteen Carat, who looks set to lead from the coveted No. 1 barrier.
“I think she is the best horse in the race, and she has come up with the best gate,” said Young. “The barrier has only made it easier for her.”
Young and Hall also have excellent prospects with the consistent Doc Holliday in the 2130m #SkyHarness Pace, in which the five-year-old has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of barrier No. 7. “He is always each-way in these types of fields,” said Young.
Doc Holliday has been unlucky at his past two starts when finishing third behind The Code Breaker and third behind Whatabro. “He would have won either of his past two if he had got out in time,” said Hall. “He went to the line, travelling, both times.”