Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Off The Charts made a splendid start to his racing career early last year when he set the pace and won in fine style over 1684m at Pinjarra at his first two race appearances.
But he has managed only two third placings from his subsequent eleven starts. However, a smart trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week was a strong pointer that he will soon return to the winning list for Oakford trainer and part-owner Jemma Hayman.
Off The Charts will begin from the No. 1 barrier in the 2130m Garrard’s Your One Stop Shop for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and Chris Lewis will be anxious to take full advantage of the prized draw by setting the pace and then holding the opposition at bay.
Lewis got Off The Charts away to a speedy start from the outside barrier in the field of six in the recent 2185m trial at Pinjarra. The Downbytheseaside gelding raced keenly in front without setting a particularly fast time. He covered the final 400m sections in 29.5sec. and 29sec. and won by one length from Perfect Move, rating 1.58.9.
Ravenswood trainer-driver Jocelyn Young produced Kabochon in excellent condition when the gelding made most of the running and won by three lengths from Go Mario, rating 1.58.8 over 2185m at Pinjarra on March 4 when having his first start since he led and finished third behind Manhattan Moon over 2130m at Gloucester Park on September 22. Kabochon will start from barrier three and will have many admirers.
The three Gs, Golden Lode, Grevis and Grand Couteau, also warrant plenty of respect and should be prominent.
Golden Lode, to be driven by Deni Roberts for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, possesses wonderful natural speed and looks set to fight out the finish, despite starting from the outside barrier in the field of eight.
Golden Lode’s five starts as a three-year-old have resulted in three wins and two second placings. His last-start second to Opal Hunter at Gloucester Park on March 12 was full of merit. He began from the outside barrier in the field of nine, raced three wide early, was restrained to the rear and surged home, three wide, from last at the bell to hit the front with 250m to travel before wilting and finding the talented Opal Hunter too good after that pacer had enjoyed a perfect trip behind the pacemaker Cachinnation.
Grevis, trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, will start out wide at barrier seven. He maintained his solid form when he finished strongly into third place behind Bet The House and Ten To The Dozen over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday night.
Grand Couteau, the only filly in the race, will be driven by her trainer Dylan Egerton-Green. She resumed after a six-month absence with a fast-finishing victory at Narrogin on Tuesday of last week.
Lewis also has good winning prospects with the Katja Warwick-trained All Is Well, who will begin from the No. 1 barrier in the www.horseandhound.com.au Pace. All Is Well drops significantly in class after he was prominent throughout and fought on solidly to finish third behind Never Ending and Hotly Pursued in the Group 3 Preux Chevalier Classic last Friday night.