Ken Casellas | Photo: Gloucester Park Harness Racing
Smart two-year-old filly Sweet Vivienne has drawn awkwardly at barrier six in the 2130m Follow The Trots On Facebook And Twitter Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, but astute trainer Kim Prentice is enthusiastic about her prospects.
“This will be her last run before she goes to the paddock,” said Prentice. “We’ll most likely push the button and charge forward. If they want to hold us out, good luck to them. She is definitely a strong winning chance. She is going very good and is very strong.
“After this race she will have a good break and she’ll come back a really lovely three-year-old.”
Sweet Vivienne will be handled by Mitch Miller, who made full use of her sparkling gate speed when she began from barrier four and burst to the front after 80m in a 2130m event on Tuesday of last week. She dashed over the final quarters in 28.7sec. and 28.9sec. and rated 1.58.6 in winning by four lengths from American Monarch.
That was Sweet Vivienne’s third all-the-way win from her past five appearances. Her main opposition is expected to come from the Katja Warwick-trained Fly To Fame and Aiden De Campo’s American Monarch.
Fly To Fame, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko, will be strongly fancied from barrier three. She possesses excellent gate speed as she revealed when she led from barrier two and won from Hunt the Magic at a 1.59.8 rate over 2130m at Gloucester Park three starts ago. She raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs and was hampered for room in the final stages when an unlucky fifth behind Sweet Vivienne on Tuesday of last week.
American Monarch, drawn out wide at barrier seven, faces a tougher task than when she set the pace from the No. 2 barrier and held on to win from Lucienne over 1730m at Gloucester Park three starts ago.
Miller, who is driving in wonderful style, has sound prospects when he drives experienced campaigner The Kraken for Coolup trainer Dan Costello from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m You Too Mate Pace.
The Kraken, who has won once from his past 28 starts and twice from his past 47 starts, will be making his 99TH appearance in a career of 13 wins and 30 placings. He has maintained his sound form with seconds to Suing You and The Mustang at his past two outings.