Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Outstanding young reinsman Kyle Symington has given punters a valuable lead by choosing to drive Chal Patch in preference to Valentines Brook in the $25,000 The Trots WA Owners Appreciation Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Symington handled both pacers at their most recent outing, and he was greatly impressed with both their performances. Chal Patch, trained by Nathan Turvey, finished powerfully to win from Youre So Fine, rating 1.57 over 2130m last Friday week, and he brought Valentines Brook home with a sizzling burst from last in the field of nine at the bell to finish an eye-catching second to Watts Up Sunshine over 1730m last Friday night.
“I was pulling my hair out for about a half hour,” said Symington. “It was a very tough decision. Both are high quality horses who are going very well. I’ve gone with Chal Patch purely because he has drawn inside of Valentines Brook.
“There’s a lot of pace inside Chal Patch (who will start from the No. 3 barrier), and I can’t pick the leader from Jaspervellabeach, Whatabro, Watts Up Sunshine and Mr Fantastic. Both Chal Patch and Valentines Brook (barrier four) lack a bit of gate speed, but they can certainly hold their own. Chal Patch’s latest run was awesome.”
Valentines Brook will be driven by his trainer Jocelyn Young, and he is capable of improving on his consistent record of 78 starts for 17 wins, 22 seconds and seven thirds.
Gary Hall Jnr has decided to handle Master Publisher in preference to the Michael Young-trained Watts Up Sunshine, whom he drove to an easy all-the-way win over 1730m last Friday night. Master Publisher, trained by Gary Hall Snr, finished solidly when fourth behind Mea Culpa over 2130m last Friday week. That followed smart wins at each of his three previous starts. He is the only runner on the back line in Friday night’s event and should fight out the finish.
Symington also has sound winning prospects with Hillview Bondi in the opening event, the 1730m @Thetrotswa On Facebook Pace, in which he is awkwardly drawn at barrier No. 6.
Hillview Bondi, trained by Ryan Bell, was most impressive last Friday night when he began from barrier five and worked hard in the breeze before fighting on grandly to finish third behind Watts Up Sunshine and Valentines Brook when the final 800m of the 1730m event was run in 56.2sec.
“Hillview Bondi loves the mile and being up on the pace,” said Symington. “This is a suitable race, and he will go forward. If we can’t get to the front, I’ll be happy to be in the breeze.”
Classic Choice and Thomson Bay appear to be Hillview Bondi’s most serious rivals. The Barry Howlett-trained Classic Choice drops in class, and his recent efforts in stronger company have been full of merit. He will be driven by Chris Voak and is the only runner off the back line.
Thomson Bay, prepared by Hayden Reeves, is favourably drawn at barrier two for in-form reinsman Stuart McDonald. The lightly-raced six-year-old caught the eye last Friday night when he surged home with a powerful burst from ninth at the bell to finish second to My Prayer over 2130m.
Symington has each-way prospects with Peligroso (race six), Acuto (seven) and Codename Marcus (eight).
“Peligroso’s last run was an improved effort, Acuto generally steps away well in stands, and I was super happy with Codename Marcus’s latest run,” said Symington. “Codename Marcus isn’t known for his braveness, but to sit in the breeze and still run the last half as quick as he did (when second to Skylou) was super.”