Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Five-year-old pacer The Mustang has managed one win from his past 28 starts, but he looks set to make a successful West Australian debut by overcoming the disadvantage of an awkward barrier at No. 7 and proving the master of his eleven rivals in the 2130m The Nullarbor Slot Race In April Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The Victorian-bred The Mustang, who will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for trainer Michael Young, gave a sample of his class when he led from barrier two in a four-horse 2185m trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week and won by a half-length from stablemate Kimble, rating 1.55.2 after dashing over the final three quarters in 28.9sec., 28.9sec. and 27.6sec.
Before being purchased for a six-figure sum by the Aaron Bain Racing Racing Pty Ltd and the Summit Bloodstock Pty Ltd after his most recent outing when ninth in a race at Brisbane’s Albion Park on June 4 The Mustang had a record of 54 starts for 15 wins, 27 placings and stakes of $157,433.
“I’m pretty excited about him,” said the perennially optimistic Young, who explained that the Changeover gelding was dropping considerably in class.
“He gets in here on a really low level after being a Free-For-Aller over east. His latest run was in a group 3 event at Albion Park (when he galloped at the start, raced wide early, was restrained to the rear and finished ninth).
“Two starts before that he finished second (beaten a half-length) to Cash N Flow at Menangle.”
Cash And Flow, who has won 39 races and earned $652,867, covered the 1609m in that event in 1.50.5. Rockin Marty (a winner of 14 races and $303,536) finished third, and the fourth placegetter Perfect Stride is a winner of 14 races and $327,330.
“The Mustang had a fair bit left when he won his trial at Pinjarra,” said Young. “I hoppled him today (Tuesday) and he worked pretty good. He is pretty versatile, and his major strength is that he absolutely flies the mobile.”
Also having his first start for Young on Friday night is the lightly-raced five-year-old Firerockfireroll, who will be driven by Hall and will start from the No. 4 barrier in the $30,000 group 3 Westerntrilogy.com.au Restricted Spring Feature.
“I like him and he worked in good style with The Mustang today (Tuesday),” said Young.
Firerockfireroll will start from the No. 4 barrier, with his chief rivals Pontevivo and The Code Breaker drawn inside him.
Jocelyn Young trains Pontevivo, Rokorico and Adda Something, and she has given punters a good lead by choosing to drive Pontevivo from the favourable No. 1 barrier. Her uncle Shane Young will handle Rokorico from barrier five, and her sister Madeliene will be in the sulky behind Adda Something from barrier two on the back line.