Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Henley Brook trainer-reinsman Robbie Williams was delighted with the brilliant debuts of his two-year-olds Louie Vee and Mysta Moon Walker at Gloucester Park on Tuesday evening, and he is confident that his winning ways will continue when he drives Ima Fivestar General in the Bridge Bar Back In March Pace on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Ima Fivestar General is favourably drawn at barrier No. 2 and Williams is aiming to win the start and set the pace in the 1730m sprint event. “That’s the plan, but it is never easy,” he said. “We will be doing our best and hopefully it is good enough.
“He was unlucky when fifth behind Minstrel last Friday night. He was travelling really strongly and was full of running on the line after there was no clear running in the home straight.”
Ima Fivestar General rated 1.54.4 at his previous start when he raced without cover before winning from Deeorse and October Reign. He also raced in the breeze the previous week when he finished second to Nullarbor Navajo over 2130m.
Williams purchased Louie Vee and Mysta Moon Walker at the Perth APG yearling sale last year, and the geldings were most impressive when they made their debuts in a 1730m event on Tuesday night, with Williams setting the pace with Louie Vee, who held on to beat the fast-finishing Mysta Moon Walker by a half-head.
Banjup trainer Murray Lindau is confident that his speedy four-year-old Hotly Pursued will overcome the disadvantage of the outside barrier in the field of nine in the 2130m Australian Pacing Gold Pace.
Hotly Pursued, driven by Kyle Harper, impressed last Friday night when he set the pace and won from Jawsoflincoln and The Miki Taker.
“I expect Hotly Pursued to fight out the finish,” said Lindau. “We have option, whether to launch (at the start) or wait until things calm down and then put him into the race.”
Balingup Boy, trained and driven by Chris Voak, has resumed after a let-up in good style and should be prominent from the No. 3 barrier. The inexperienced four-year-old raced without cover for much of the way and fought on strongly when second to the brilliant three-year-old Vegas Strip over 2130m on Tuesday night when the final 800m was run in 56.7sec.
Baligup Boy dashed to an early lead and went on to win a 2242m event at Narrogin the previous Tuesday by more than ten lengths. “I have had troubles with him for a long time, viruses and fitness issues, and his recent efforts have been excellent,” said Voak.
Lindau has high hopes that Beyond The Sea, to be driven by Harper, will prove hard to beat when she begins from the prized No. 1 barrier in the $30,000 TAB Radio Pace for mares.
“Beyond The Sea raced three back on the pegs when a good third behind Steno last week, and this week I’d like to see her in front,” he said. “She has done well from the top previously.”
Beyond The Sea’s main danger is likely to be the Nathan Turvey-trained Three Rumours, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr from an awkward draw at barrier No. 6. Three Rumours is in good form and is capable of strong efforts after racing in the breeze.