Ken Casellas | Race Replay
Champion reinsman Gary Hall Jnr has seven excellent drives at Gloucester Park on Friday night, with the much travelled and lightly-raced Ultimate Miki looking his best winning chance.
Four-year-old Ultimate Miki, trained by Gary Hall Snr, will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line in the Larkhill Vets Your Equine Specialists Pace over 2130m, with Hall Jnr saying: “He is a nice type who will be hard to beat. He is versatile and probably will be driven aggressively.”
Ultimate Miki finished second at his two Victorian starts at Bendigo as a two-year-old and then won for trainer Michael Brennan at his five appearances in Queensland as a three-year-old last year before he was a $2.40 favourite in a 2300m event at Menangle on September 13 last year when he raced in the breeze before fading to finish last behind the frontrunning Miki Cohen.
He made his West Australian debut at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week when he dashed to an early lead from barrier four and ambled through the opening quarters in 31.5sec. and 30.1sec. before sprinting home with 400m sections of 28.6sec. and 27.8sec. to win by two and a half lengths from Charivari, rating 1.58 over 2130m.
“He got away with a bit (with the slow early pace), and I was surprised with the way he finished off with those (fast) quarters,” said Hall. “At home he is lazy, but he did it pretty easily and went to the line with plenty left.”
Ultimate Miki’s main danger is likely to be the polemarker Pinny Noir, a lightly-raced four-year-old who will be driven by Emily Suvaljko for trainer by Michael Young.
Pinny Noir began from the outside of the front line in a 2130m event last Friday night when he raced three wide early and then without cover before wilting to finish sixth behind Wave Rebellion.
“He did a bit of work early before dropping out of it,” said Young. “He is not a breeze horse, and he has always gone better when on the rails. He has good gate speed, and we will be aiming to lead.”
Hall gives A Little Silence a good winning chance in the 2130m Pegasus and Milne Feeds Pace, in which the classy five-year-old will begin from the outside barrier (No. 9). The New Zealand-bred gelding mustered good early pace from the No. 4 barrier when he dashed to the front after 350m and was untroubled to reel off the final three 400m sections in 29.7sec., 28.4sec. and 27.9sec. and win by two lengths from Whos The Dad, rating 1.56.7, last Friday week.
“A Little Silence is racing well and is in with a chance despite the draw,” said Hall.
A Little Silence looks set for a profitable career after his first seven starts have resulted in three wins and four second placings. This week he will be tested by smart four-year-old mare Fabulous Dream, who will start from the No. 5 barrier. She was not extended in setting the pace and winning from Kinky last Friday night.