New Zealand-bred two-year-old Patriarch made a most impressive Australian debut when he crushed his nine rivals in a 2130m event at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
And his part-owner and trainer Michael Young is confident the son of Perth Interdominion champion Lazarus will repeat the dose when Emily Suvaljko drives him in the 1730m Westral Verishade Curtains Pace on Friday night.
“He should be pretty hard to beat, considering that first-up and from barrier eight he raced three wide early and then in the breeze before winning by five lengths from Methuselah (rating 1.55.8) with the ear plugs still in place,” said Young.
Patriarch will clash with several highly promising two-year-olds, with In Rare Air and Amalfi Knight poised to make bold showings.
Patriarch has an initial advantage over those geldings, who will begin out wide, with In Rare Air at barrier seven, and Amalfi Knight at eight.
“In Rare Air is my favourite two-year-old, and it’s important that he has drawn inside Amalfi Knight,” said his driver Deni Roberts, who has handled the Greg and Sky Bond-trained youngster in all of his five appearances for two wins and three second placings.
Ace trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo has a high opinion of Amalfi Knight, who followed his second to Butter Me Up on debut with hard-working wins over 2130m and 1730m at Gloucester Park at his next two outings.
“He is a progressive horse, and I really like him,” said De Campo. “He has a heap of high speed, so hopefully the pace will be on, and he can get over them late.”
Adding interest to Friday night’s race will be the appearance of Nite Sniper (barrier one) and Shimmering (barrier two). Nite Sniper, to be driven by Ryan Warwick for Pinjarra trainer Gary Elson, has resumed after a winter spell in fine form with wins over 1730m at Gloucester Park and over 2100m at Bunbury.
The New Zealand-bred Shimmering, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed, is the only filly in the race. She finished third at Ashburton at her only New Zealand appearance (on June 1) and endured a tough run in the breeze when a half-head second to In Full Flight over 1730m at Gloucester Park on September 16 at her only appearance in WA.
