Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Talented young reinsman Kyle Symington is hoping to take full advantage of the coveted No. 1 barrier by landing an early double on the 12-event card at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He will drive Frisky Styx for trainer Ryan Bell in race two, the 7Plus Pace over 2130m, and Acuto for owner-trainer Chris Phatouros in race three, the 2130m Home And Away Pace.
Four-year-old Frisky Styx, a winner at six of his 16 starts, has good gate speed and is a smart frontrunner. At his second appearance after a spell, he began from barrier four and was unable to get to an early lead and was forced to work hard in the breeze before wilting to fifth behind Pocket The Change over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday night.
Frisky Styx is expected to meet strong opposition from the Kim Prentice-trained Soho Firestone, who will start from the No. 2 barrier with Mitch Miller expected to use the four-year-old’s good gate speed in a bid to get to an early lead.
Soho Firestone impressed last Friday night when he was a $151 outsider and was restrained from out wide at barrier eight and was ninth at the bell before finishing strongly to be fourth behind Mister Smartee.
Gary Hall Jnr has given punters a good lead by choosing to drive Hes Never Been Beta in preference to stablemate Soho Bollinger. The two pacers are prepared by Gary Hall Snr.
“Both pacers are working well, and Soho Bollinger won a trial in good style at Byford last Sunday,” said Hall Jnr.
Four-year-old Hes Never Been Beta, who will be resuming after a spell, is handily drawn at barrier two on the back line. He has won at nine of his 24 starts and must come under serious consideration.
Six-year-old Soho Bollinger will be making his first appearance since he set the pace and faded to tenth in a 2650m event at Bendigo on October 2, 2021. He will be driven by Stuart McDonald.
“We have tried to bring Soho Bollinger back a few times, but he kept breaking down with leg problems,” said Hall Jnr. “He’s standing up this time.”
Nine-year-old Acuto is sure to relish starting from barrier one, and Symington is expected to attempt to win the start and set the pace, as he did when the gelding led and sprinted over the final quarters in 28.4sec. and 27.4sec. and won from Rockaball in mid-March this year.