Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
The all-conquering Bond stable should improve its excellent record in the Memorial Day Stakes by winning the $25,000 event over 2536m at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Steel The Show.
Steel The Show will start from the No. 1 barrier, and star driver Deni Roberts said: “His latest run was terrific, and he will be leading on Friday night.”
Greg Bond trained Money Magic (2006) and Can Return Fire (2012) for wins in the Memorial Day Stakes before Greg and Skye Bond were successful with Change Stride in 2016 and Ocean Ridge in 2020.
Steel The Show bounced back to his best form last Friday night when, at his fourth run after a spell, he was a $16 chance in the 2536m Parliamentarians Cup and settled down in seventh position before dashing forward in the first lap to the breeze and then gaining the one-out, one-back position and finishing strongly to be second to Pinny Tiger.
Steel The Show’s most serious rival is likely to be the Kevin Keys-trained Alcopony, who will start from barrier four. He will be handled by Gary Hall Jnr, who has driven the five-year-old at four of his 67 starts, with his most recent drive behind the gelding being on May 12 last year when he finished second to Magnificent Storm in the Navy Cup.
Alcopony has been very unlucky at several of his recent starts when badly held up for a clear run in the closing stages. Last Friday night Alcopony raced in sixth position, four back on the pegs, and did not get clear until late when he surged home, out four wide, to finish an unlucky fourth behind Pinny Tiger in the Parliamentarians Cup.
Steel The Show is one of several winning prospects for Roberts and the Bond stable on Friday night. Apart from Steel The Show and Minstrel in the Fremantle Cup, the Bond and Roberts combination has excellent chances with Lusaka (race two), Jett Star (race three) and Ladieshavtime (race ten).
Four-year-old Lusaka will start from the outside barrier on the front line in the Retravision Lowest Price Guarantee Pace, but he should overcome this distinct disadvantage and prove too smart for his ten rivals.
Luska has finished close seconds behind Machlani and Navy Street at his past two appearances after working hard without cover. “It’s a tough gate but he is racing so well that he should be right in it,” said Roberts.
Jett Star will begin from barrier five in the third event, with Roberts saying: “This looks a good race for him. His latest run was really good (second to Eldaytona after racing in the breeze) and he is definitely heading in the right direction.”
Ladieshavtime will start from the outside barrier in the field of seven in the 1730m Retravision Online Pace for two-year-old fillies. She has raced three times for a fast-finishing win at Gloucester Park and two seconds at Pinjarra, the latest being on Monday this week when she worked hard in the breeze and fought on determinedly to finish two lengths behind smart colt Soho Shakedown.
“She went good on Monday when she breezed against the boys,” said Roberts. “She is back to a race for fillies, and I think she will run a good race.”