Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Pinjarra trainer David Young holds a strong hand in the Chris Lewis 6000 Wins Trot at Gloucester Park on Friday night with two of the eight runners, Patched and Thats Not My Gait.
The six-year-old Patched has a splendid record of 15 wins and 19 placings from 53 starts, but he disappointed Young when he raced at the rear and finished a well-beaten sixth behind Our Maestoso in a field of nine over 2692m at Pinjarra last Monday week.
“Blood tests showed that his first-up run (a fortnight earlier when third to Our Maestoso at Gloucester Park) hurt him a lot more than I realised,” he said. “It took a fair bit out of him, but the vet is confident that I could turn him around pretty quickly.
“I’ve changed a few things around and I’m hoping we will see the old Patched this week. I’ve always thought that Patched was the best trotter here, and he can definitely beat Tricky Ric on Friday night. We have changed his workload and are doing some sprint training instead of the long stamina training, trying to re-sharpen him up again.”
Aiden De Campo has chosen to drive Patched, who will start from the outside barrier in the field of eight, ahead of Thats Not My Gait, who will be handled by Trent Wheeler from the No. 3 barrier.
Thats Not My Gait is a consistent mare whose 51 starts have produced eleven wins, 14 seconds and five thirds. She has been placed at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park at her past two starts, following wins at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park at her two previous outings.
“Thats Not My Gait lacks brilliance but what she lacks in brilliance she makes up for in toughness,” said Young. “I’ll leave the tactics up to Trent. She probably should have nearly won, even off 70 metres at her latest start (when third behind Bee Bee Beroc). She hung really badly around the final bend. So, I’ve changed some head gear, hoping that will help to straighten her up. “
Patched won the Trotters Cup last February, with Tricky Ric, starting off the 40m mark, finishing sixth, four lengths behind the winner. It was a tremendous performance by Tricky Ric, who settled down at the rear in the field of eleven before dashing forward, three wide, to race in the breeze for almost two laps.
Trainer Gary Hall Snr said he was pleased with Tricky Ric’s first-up second to Our Maestoso at Pinjarra last Monday week when he ran on strongly from sixth at the bell. “He came from a mile back,” said Hall.
Former Victorian trotter Robbie Royale will be making his first appearance at Gloucester Park for trainer Barry Howlett and reinsman Shannon Suvaljko. He had a tough run in the breeze at his WA debut when third behind Our Maestoso last Monday week.
Another former Victorian performer Scootin Around is the likely pacemaker and should fight out the finish. The chestnut’s first four WA starts have resulted in two wins and a second placing at Pinjarra.