Champion reinsman Gary Hall jnr had the choice of three drives in the Vale Peter Blaszczak Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night, and he has given punters a valuable lead by opting to handle Nathan Street ahead of Sweet Coco and My Watchlist.
He had driven Sweet Coco and My Watchlist to decisive victories at their latest outings, while Nathan Street had no luck when finishing eighth behind The Iron Duke in the Christmas Gift last Friday night.
And Nathan Street faces a stern test from the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line in Friday night’s event over 2130m. He overcame the disadvantage of starting from barrier nine in a heat of the Christmas Gift two starts ago when he was last at the bell and in fifth place with 150m to travel before he charged home to win by almost a length from Blaze Away, rating 1.55.6.
Hall trains Nathan Street and Sweet Coco, while My Watchlist is prepared by his father Gary Hall snr.
Sweet Coco was most impressive last Friday night when she was last at the bell in the field of seven in a 1730m event before she sprinted brilliantly to charge to the front with 400m to travel on her way to winning by almost two lengths from the pacemaker Quinton, rating 1.54.8. She will start from barrier five and will be driven by Stuart McDonald.
My Watchlist overcame a wide draw at barrier seven when he was eighth at the bell and then surged home to win by a half-length from the frontrunning favourite Hi Suga Rush over 2130m last Friday week. He will begin from barrier five and will be handled by Emily Suvaljko.
Nathan Street has been tardy in mobile starts in recent outings, and last Friday night he was slow in the score-up and was out of position at the start when he was left about six lengths behind the early pacemaker Captain Confetti.
He was beginning a strong move from the rear approaching the bell but ruined his chances when he contacted the sulky of Rockandrollartist, broke into a gallop and dropped back to the rear.
Pinjarra trainer-reinsman Chris Voak has two runners in Friday night’s event, in which he has chosen to handle Fat Louie from the favourable No. 2 barrier, while Chris Lewis will drive Our Vinnie from the No. 4 barrier.
Four-year-old Fat Louie has won at five of his 14 starts. He finished strongly to win from Lil Happy Fella and Xcite me three starts ago. Our Vinnie was handled by Lewis when he fought on from sixth at the bell to finish third behind Sugar Delight and Greatgreat Boulder over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Tuesday of last week.
Coolup trainer Phil Costello has five-year-old gelding Era racing keenly, with two wins and two placings at his past four starts. He will again be driven by Dylan Egerton-Green from the ideal No. 1 barrier.
Banjup trainer Colin Brown also has Arma Believer performing fine style with four wins and three seconds from his nine starts as a four-year-old. Maddison Brown will drive Arma believer, who will need to overcome the disadvantage of beginning out wide at barrier eight.
