Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star driver Deni Roberts will be in action in the first seven events at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and she reports that her best winning prospect is Tenzing Bromac in the $31,000 Vale Darren Kinninmont Free-For-All over 2130m.
Roberts, who reached a significant milestone when she notched her 750TH winner with the win of Justcallmemiki at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening, said: “This is the best draw (barrier three) he has had for a long time, and we will be trying to get across to lead.
“His fourth in the Pinjarra Cup was pretty good. He is a lot better on speed, and in the Cup, he had to come from behind and was forced wide around the whole (final) corner which didn’t help him.”
That performance by Tenzing Bromac was particularly striking, considering it was his first appearance since finishing third behind Cantfindabettorman in the 2300m Interdominion Championship consolation Free-For-All at Menangle three months earlier after starting out wide at barrier seven, racing three wide early and then in the breeze.
Seven-year-old Tenzing Bromac is prepared by champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond, who will also be represented in Friday night’s event by veteran pacers Galactic Star (barrier two), Mighty Conqueror (six) and Steel the Show (seven).
However, Tenzing Bromac’s toughest opponent is likely to be the Justin Prentice-trained Mighty Ronaldo, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from the outside barrier in the field of eight.
Mighty Ronaldo, a winner of 13 races and $859,401 in prizemoney, has resumed after a spell in fine style with a first-up half-head second to Steno over 2130m followed by his splendid third behind Minstrel in the 2692m Pinjarra when he finished powerfully from the rear.
“Mighty Ronaldo’s runs since a spell have been good and he should be in the finish,” said Hall.
The Miki Taker, a winner of 15 races and $300,582, will be having his second run after a spell when he begins from the No. 1 barrier for trainer Aiden De Campo and reinsman Joey Suvaljko.
“This is a good draw for him for a change,” said De Campo. “Normally, he doesn’t show a heap of gate speed but when he drew one in a race last June he held up and led (and won by a short half-head from Lusaka).
“So, we will be doing our best to hold up but if we can’t he will still run a good race. He is working very well and his first-up run was good (when he began from barrier eight and finished seventh behind Justcallmemiki at Gloucester Park last Friday week). He tried to work to the breeze but couldn’t get there and went back to last before running home pretty good.”
Reappearing after a spell will be the Murray Lindau-trained Talks Up A Storm, a winner of 18 races who will be driven by Kyle Harper from barrier five.
“Talks Up A Storm is forward enough and should go alright,” said Lindau. “I’m not sure whether we will fly the gate. I’ll discuss plans with Kyle.
“I was happy with his Pinjarra trial three Wednesdays ago (when he led and won by a head from All Is Well, rating 1.58.4 over 2185m with final 400m sections of 28.2sec. and 27.9sec.). But his heart rate and performance said I was probably another couple of weeks away from going to town because of the level he would be going up against.
“That was a fortnight ago, and since then he has had a fair bit more of work which has been good.”