Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
New Zealand-bred four-year-old Stormy Vista showed that he should be prominent at his Australian debut at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he rated 1.57.4 in winning a 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week.
His appearance in the 2130m Westral Roller Shutters Pace in which he will begin from the outside of the back line will create considerable interest.
He is trained by Michael Young and will be handled by Emily Suvaljko, who drove him in his recent trial when he set the pace and beat Lucca by a neck after a slow lead time followed by solid quarters of 29.3sec., 29.6sec., 28sec. and 28.4sec.
“He is strong and he had a tough trial in which he kept kicking,” said Young. “He was under the whip for the whole last lap and a half. He is a very casual customer, but he works in good style.”
Stormy Vista will be having his first start since he won a 2600m stand at Rangiora on March 1 when he rated a slow 2.6.9 and beat Mystery Beach by a head. That took his career record to 28 starts for three wins, nine placings and $37,014.
Interestingly, Stormy Vista has had only three starts in mobile events, finishing eighth, sixth and ninth. His chief rivals on Friday night are expected to be Im Massimo and Take a Hike.
The Victorian-bred four-year-old Im Massimo will be having his first start for trainer Justin Prentice and reinsman Gary Hall Jnr since he finished tenth behind Seaside Magic in the Pearl Classic for three-year-old colts and gelding 12 months ago.
He began speedily from out wide at barrier eight and zoomed to the front after 300m when the early leader Elite Fleet broke into a gallop. He set the pace until the home turn before he wilted in the concluding stages.
His eight starts, all in WA, have resulted in three wins and four placings.
Leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond look set for a successful night, with the stable’s nine runners expected to figure prominently. The stable’s No. 1 driver Deni Roberts declared that four-year-old Rumble Strip was her best winning chance.
Rumble Strip has won at his past two starts and he looks too good for the opposition in the 2130m Westral Plantation Timber Shutters Pace in which he will begin from barrier six. The Bettors Delight gelding was untroubled to work in the breeze before winning easily from Rox The World and Sugar Shake last Friday night when he covered the final quarters in 28.4sec. and 27.6sec.
“That was his first metro-class win, and he is still down in the ratings,” said Roberts, who has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive last-start winner Kinky in preference to When In Vegas in the Westral Meshlock Security Doors And Screens Pace over 2130m.
“Both were really good last week, and they should be each-way players.” When In Vegas, who will be driven by Kyle Symington, dashed to an early lead and then trailed the pacemaker Ultimate Miki when a good second to that smart pacer last Friday night.