Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A dashing workout in a 2185m trial at Pinjarra three Wednesdays ago was a strong pointer to Captain Stirling’s winning prospects in the opening event, the 2130m Free Entry Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Driven by his trainer Dylan Egerton-Green, Captain Stirling impressed when he rated a smart 1.55.3 when he finished strongly to win by a length and a half from Goodfellaz in the six-horse trial field in which the quarters of the final mile were covered in 29.4sec., 29.9sec., 28.7sec. and 27.9sec.
The Captain Crunch four-year-old has raced 27 times for five wins, ten seconds and two thirds. He gave a sample of his class last October when he raced four back on the pegs before running home strongly to finish second to Runkle Crunch in the 2536m WA Derby.
Captain Stirling has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting out wide at barrier seven in a strong event in which several runners have sound each-way claims.
Trent Wheeler will be anxious to take advantage of Travelban’s favourable barrier at No. 1. However, he is expected to receive plenty of early pressure for the lead from fast beginners Art Ideal, Lady Camel and Rakero Raider.
Art Ideal, to be driven by Kylah Madden for trainer Philip Henwood, possesses sparkling gate speed, and he is expected to fly out from the No. 6 barrier. He led from barrier seven and won from Era and Ideal Interest at a 1.55.5 rate over 1730m two starts ago and last Friday night he revealed his versatility when he began from the outside of the back line and raced at the rear before surging home, out wide, from ninth at the bell to finish third behind Scooter B over 2130m.
Rakero Raider has struck top form for Wanneroo trainer Craig Saligari. He will start from the No. 5 barrier and should fight out the finish. He was in eleventh place at the bell and caught the eye when he charged home to finish fifth behind Scooter B.
Adding interest to the race will be the appearance of Lazarus five-year-old Atlas The Titan, who is trained by Gary Hall Snr and will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr. He will begin from the No. 3 barrier at his first start since finishing a close second to Loch Tay in the Great Southern Derby at Narrogin on October 26, 2024.
Egerton-Green faces a busy night with nine stable runners engaged, with last-start winner Major Miki Whitby looking one of the main chances in the 1730m HTA Access Solutions Pace in which the four-year-old gelding will start from the No. 4 barrier.
Major Miki Whitby began from the back line, and he sprinted fast to dash to the front in the first lap before going on to win by more than five lengths from Mighty Magician over 2190m at Northam last Saturday week, rating 1.57 after the final three 400m sections whizzed by in 28.7sec., 27.6sec. and 28.7sec.
Balingup Boy ran home solidly to finish third in that event and the John Oldroyd-trained six-year-old, a winner at Bunbury and Pinjarra at his two previous outings, appeals as Major Miki Whitby’s most serious rival. Balingup Boy will be driven by Gary Hall Jnr and he will begin from the No. 2 barrier, a significant advantage over Major Miki Whitby.
Trainer Michael Young has engaged Hall to drive Luvbite, the sole backmarker off 40m in the 2503m HTA Rent A Gen Handicap, and his clash with in-form stablemate and standing-start specialist Stormy Vista should provide plenty of action.
Luvbite started from the 30m mark last Friday night when he was sixth at the bell and dashed forward to get on terms with the frontrunning Stormy Vista 300m from home before finishing a 2m second to that smart pacer.