Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Star reinsman Chris Voak has landed three trebles in the space of eight days to begin 2024 in spectacular style, and punters will be looking for good value from Voak in the opening two events at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Voak has driven eleven winners this year, including trebles at Bunbury, Pinjarra and Gloucester Park, and has dashed to an early lead in the WA drivers’ premiership table, leading from Gary Hall Jnr (six), Kyle Symington (five) and Trent Wheeler, Shannon Suvaljko and Emily Suvaljko (all with four winners).
He is hopeful that Machlani in race one and Per Ardua Ad Astra (race two) will be prominent. Machlani, trained by Giles Inwood, will start from the No. 4 barrier in the 2130m WA Hall Of Fame Pace.
Eight-year-old Machlani has a losing sequence of 30, but he caught the eye as a rank outsider from out wide at barrier eight in a 1730m event last Friday night when he was ninth at the bell before finishing strongly to be third behind Showpony and High Price.
“His run last week was an eye-catcher, and he is working into some form,” said Voak. “He lacks a bit of gate speed, but if he gets a nice trip, he could kick home good.”
Voak trains Per Ardua Ad Astra, who sat behind the pacemaker Brickies Dream and finished second to that pacer over 2536m on New Year’s Eve.
Per Ardua Ad Astra is well drawn at barrier two, with the hot favourite Lucca at barrier one. “He went well last start and he got to the line in fast time (with final quarters of 28.3sec. and 27.1sec.),” said Voak.
“I think I have finally got him back to his best form, but I don’t want to get into a battle early when I’ll be conservative and let the others do the work, and if it opens up, he’s a chance of running in the top three.”
Voak will drive evergreen eight-year-old Deeorse for Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg in race six, in which the gelding will start from barrier four on the front line in a race in which the backmarker Chal Patch looks outstanding.
“Deeorse is a novelty hope,” said Voak. “He started from out wide at barrier nine and came home really well (from eighth at the bell) to finish fourth behind Acuto last Friday night. He’s a novelty hope this week.”