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Young Has Young Guns On Target
Trainer Michael Young will continue unveiling two-year-old feature race aspirants at Gloucester Park this Friday night.
Having already had two-year-old success this week at Pinjarra on Monday, Young will launch a two-pronged attack on Friday’s Barbagallo Ram Pace (1730m).
Butter Me Up, who saluted in Monday’s two-year-old race, and Cease To React will be Young’s representation in the event, as they continue their build to the $215,000 Westbred Classic in September.
He also accepted with the talented Toby George in the event, but Young withdrew him earlier in the week.
Butter Me Up and Cease To React have drawn barrier five and six respectively, while exciting debut winner El Mystro has drawn favourably in barrier two.
While Butter Me Up was successful when first-up on Monday, Young said the gelding was the beneficiary of race favourite Amalfi Knight doing things wrong in the concluding stages.
“I think we got lucky,” Young told Racing WA Harness.
“Aiden’s horse (Amalfi Knight) is pretty smart, and I think we were going well enough to test it but probably not beat it.
“The times were good though and he probably got a little bit lost once he was left in front.”
Cease To React will be lining up for the first time since finishing second to Ideal Beach in February’s Sales Classic final (1730m).
Young said he was bullish on what the son of Soho Tribeca could do this preparation.
“I think he’s come back even better again,” he said.
“The trial was good, even though he didn’t win it.
“His last two quarters were clocked in 27.7 and 27.4, so we were really happy with that.
“He’s probably the type of horse that can win some of the features, whereas Butter Me Up is only slightly above average.”
Young indicated both two-year-olds would likely be driven conservatively in the early stages on Friday night and indicated El Mystro would be the hardest to beat.
The Mardella-based trainer said he had high hopes Blaze On could make a winning return to racing in the Barbagallo Motoring Excellence Pace (2130m).
Meanwhile, Young’s exciting acquisition Heavenly Gipsy will join Penny Black in Friday week’s $50,000 Kerry Clark (2130m).
Day Is Coming For George Pair
Pinjarra trainer Michael George is hoping his patience will be rewarded when Velocipede lines up in tomorrow night’s Barbagallo Motoring Excellence Pace (2130m).
The five-year-old led and was run down by Manhattan Moon in the concluding stages of last Friday’s Bridge Bar Open For Origin Pace (2130m).
It continued a consistent second campaign under George’s care by Velocipede, having joined his stable from Gary Hall Snr last October.
George said Velocipede, having his 10th start under his care tomorrow night, had endured a few minor setbacks along the way and required a patient approach.
“It’s been quite a struggle and a long road with him,” George told Racing WA Harness.
“He’s had a lot of excuses the last couple of starts and he’s a real confidence horse.
“We’ve had some minor problems with him a long the way and probably found that he’s not really a male horse.
“Prue (George’s wife) has done a lot of work with him, and he seems to appreciate that.”
Velocipede, to be driven by Stuart McDonald, has drawn kindly in barrier two tomorrow night, with only Beat The Bank drawn below him.
The gelding faces a strong field in the event, which features Lord Titanium, Blaze On, Thelittle Master and the returning Louie Dior.
George said he hoped Velocipede would be able to work his way to the front and leave it up to McDonald what to do from there.
“He can get quite keen in his races,” he said.
“If he gets keen, we won’t try to restrain him.
“I think he follows the speed better, but I will leave it up to Stewy if he wants to let him roll this week.
“It’s definitely a winnable race for him on Friday.”
George also takes Faster Than Dad to Gloucester Park on Friday night, who takes on Aardiebytheseaside once again in the Barbagallo Aston Martin Free-For-All (2130m).
Faster Than Dad finished just 4.9m away from Aardiebytheseaside last week, who again looms as the one to beat from barrier one.
The seven-year-old looks set to have his work cut out from barrier six of eight.
George indicated Faster Than Dad was “going really well” but would be better suited when he had the chance to lead or sit close to the speed on the pegs.
Ahlia Looking To Go Back-To-Back
Trainer David Young is adamant using Heartofahlia in a sit-sprint capacity will bring out the best in her, as she looks for back-to-back wins to start her campaign at Gloucester Park tonight.
The four-year-old led from start to finish from barrier four first-up at Gloucester Park last month.
With key rivals Skip A Beat, She’s A Tiny Dancer and Lady Camel drawn inside her, Heartofahlia is likely to be saved for one run in tonight’s Barbagallo Rolls-Royce Pace (2130m).
Young said the tricky draw could work in Heartofahlia’s favour tonight.
“I’m probably more confident this week because we can sit her up,” Young told Racing WA Harness.
“I’ve been doing her gallop work and it’s been good.
“It’s a nice and even field this week, but she will be hard to beat with an ounce of luck.”
Despite scoring a win first-up, Young said he was slightly disappointed with Heartofahlia’s performance after a promising trial.
“Her trial behind Heavenly Gipsy was super,” he said.
“Aiden said it was the best she’s felt.
“I was glad she won first-up, but she made heavy weather of it and I don’t think she should have.”
Elsewhere, Young also has strong representation in the Barbagallo Alfa Romeo Fiat Trot (2130m).
That’s Not My Gait and Patched will start from barrier one and nine respectively, in what shapes as an intriguing event.
Despite not having the superior numerical form of the pair, Young said he leaned to That’s Not My Gait tonight.
“I expect her to lead and win,” he said.
“I know her form looks ordinary, but she is flying.
“She was ordinary two starts back, but we found an issue and last start she got into a bit of trouble.
“If she can hold up, she can run some serious time in front.”
While regular driver Aiden De Campo sticks with Patched, Dylan Egerton-Green gets the chance to score his first win in partnership with Young on That’s Not My Gait.
Young said Patched would likely be saved for one run from the outside draw and was confident he could play a part in the finish with the right luck.
Williams Not Prepared To Get Carried Away With Mystro
Trainer Robbie Williams admits he’s got high hopes for El Mystro, but is wary of not getting himself ahead of the two-year-old’s metropolitan debut at Gloucester Park tonight.
El Mystro produced an impressive performance sitting outside of Trixie Dora and beating her in 1:55.8 on debut at Pinjarra earlier this month.
He faces another test in tonight’s Barbagallo Ram Pace (1730m), where he comes up against Sales Classic runner-up Cease To React.
Williams said he was quietly confident of a strong debut performance, following a trial at Wanneroo last month.
“I did think he would go very well,” Williams told TABradio.
“He’s shown a bit since he was broken in.
“I thought the less we could do with him first-up the better.
“I did expect to be sitting parked, which I was happy enough with.
“I just wanted to keep him in the clear and I was confident he could get the job done.”
The son of Lather Up has the draw advantage over his key rivals this evening and looks well placed to maintain the unbeaten start to his career.
Williams said he hoped to be able to capitalise on barrier two, with only debutant Nod From Above drawn inside him.
“If we could run the gate tomorrow night and find the top, I expect him to be hard to beat,” he said.
“If he settles and does everything right, I think he will perform strongly.
“I’d rather let him do the talking on the track, but he’s certainly got a lot of ability.”
A win for El Mystro tonight would continue a big week for Williams, who had Brickies Dream win at Gloucester Park last Friday and Mysta Moon Walker win on Tuesday.
Williams indicated he would like to give El Mystro a short break after tonight’s run and bring him back for the Pearl Classic, Westbred Classic and Golden Slipper later in the year.
Michael Young, who trains both Cease To React and Butter Me Up, said he didn’t expect either of his pair could beat El Mystro tonight
