Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Only one of the nine runners in the $30,000 Beau Rivage Westsired Pace for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night has won a race.
Ubeen Thundastruck, trained and driven by Donald Harper, began speedily from barrier No. 3 to set the pace and go on and win over 1730m at Kellerberrin two Sundays ago when he beat the odds-on favourite Allwoods Chevron by a length.
Ubeen Thundastruck will be tested from the outside barrier on Friday night, and star reinsman Shannon Suvaljko is confident that, from the No. 4 barrier, the Katja Warwick-trained Allwoods Chevron can turn the tables and win the 2130m feature event.
“Allwoods Chevron, on debut at Kellerberrin, didn’t know how to race,” said Suvaljko. “I had a crack for the lead, and when Donny (Harper) didn’t want to hand up, I got in behind him. Most of Kat’s horses are good frontrunners, and if Allwoods Chevron can find the front he will be in with a good chance.”
Chief Copy, owned and trained by Charlie Luca, looms as a serious rival to Allwoods Chevron. He has been placed at seven of his eleven starts and Hayden Charles will be anxious to take advantage of his favourable barrier at No. 2.
Warrawrup owner-trainer Daryl Miller would dearly love to celebrate his 66TH birthday (on Tuesday) by winning the race with the promising colt Star Of The Galaxy, who will be driven by his son Mitch from barrier six.
Star Of The Galaxy has been placed at his past two starts — finishing third behind Cork Can Run over 1730m at Gloucester Park and second to On The Back Foot over 1780m at Northam last Friday night.