Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Former smart Victorian performer The Iron Duke, a newcomer to the Boyanup stables of Justin Prentice, is expected to be strongly fancied when he makes his West Australian debut in The Ashes on Seven Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr and his Victorian form suggests he should be capable of overcoming the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
Five-year-old The Iron Duke has raced 34 times for six wins and nine placings. At his most recent appearance he began from the No. 6 barrier in a 1720m event at Melton on August 9 when he began speedily and dashed to an early lead to set the pace before wilting to finish fourth behind Always Be Blakey, who rated 1.52.8 after final quarters of 27.9sec. and 28.3sec.
The Iron Duke’s most serious opponent looms as the Jemma Hayman-trained Malakie, who will start from barrier five and will be driven by Kyle Harper. Malakie, a seven-year-old mare, impressed last Friday night when she began from the back line and quickly mustered speed to dash to the front after 420m. She led until the final couple of strides when Triroyale Brigade finished fast to snatch victory by a head.
There will also be a strong focus on Friday night on another Prentice runner in the brilliant Never Ending, who will resume racing after a lengthy absence in the $31,000 7News Past Presidents Cup over 2130m.
Jack Callaghan will drive Never Ending, who faces a stern test from the outside barrier (No. 9), with outstanding equine millionaire Magnificent Storm certain to be a hot odds-on fancy from barrier seven following his effortless all-the-way victory in the 2536m Howard Porter Memorial last Friday week.
Five-year-old Never Ending will be having his first start since he set the pace before wilting to finish fifth behind Mister Smartee in the 2536m Golden Nugget last December.
Never Ending, the winner of three Group 1 feature events as a two-year-old and two Group 3 events as a three-year-old, has amassed $686,779 in prizemoney from 16 wins and five placings from 25 starts. He warmed up for his return to racing with a sound trial over 2185m at Pinjarra three Wednesdays ago.
He raced in last place in the four-horse Indian file trial and finished in third place behind Lincoln Lou and Swingband, without being extended. The final 400m sections were covered in 28sec. and 26.3sec.