Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Shannon Suvaljko is driving in dashing form, and he has given punters a strong lead by opting to handle Medieval Man in preference to Angel In White in the 2130m Retravision.com.au Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He drove both pacers to smart victories last Friday night and he admitted it was a tough decision to drive the Kiara Davies-trained Medieval Man, who is handily drawn at barrier three, with Angel In White, to be handled by Suvaljko’s daughter Emily, somewhat awkwardly drawn at barrier six.
“I was influenced by a better barrier,” said Shannon Suvaljko. “And I drive a lot for Kiara and her partner Michael Young.”
Suvaljko is keen to set the pace with Medieval Man. But much will depend on whether the polemarker The Kraken, a smart beginner and noted frontrunner, sets the pace or whether Gary Hall jnr opts to take a sit.
Angel In White was most impressive when she set a fast pace and rated 1.55.7 in winning by almost three lengths from Billy Mack over 2130m last Friday night. Whether she races as keenly when coming from behind remains to be seen.
Sheez Our Hope (barrier seven) and Mirragon (eight) cannot be left out of calculations. Both pacers a smart sit-sprinters.
Shannon Suvaljko and Young have excellent prospects in the RAC Members Save 5% Every Day at Retravision Handicap with the 30m backmarker Beat City, whose nine start this preparation have produced four wins and four second placings.
The five-year-old Beat City also started off 30m in a 2503m stand last Friday night when he finished second to Triroyale Brigade. Beat City raced in the breeze for much of the journey before taking the lead 375m from home.
“Beat City’s second last week was his best run, and Michael agreed,” said Suvaljko. “I wasn’t planning to be in the breeze, but that’s the way it panned out. Dont Bother Me None should be suited off the front and will be hard to beat.”