Pinjarra trainer David Young has enjoyed considerable success in recent years with square gaiters Patched and Thats Not My Gait, and Grumpee, the latest addition to his stable, looks capable of continuing this trend when he makes his city debut in the JP’s Sports Bar Trotters Sprint over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Young is following his proven formula of setting his trotters for a strong effort at their first appearance at Gloucester Park, with former Victorian trotter Grumpee drawn at barrier three in the group 3 feature event, sure to prove hard to beat after his first five WA starts --- all at Pinjarra --- have resulted in runaway victories at his two most recent outings.
Grumpee’s eleven rivals include Patched (barrier two on the back line) and Thats Not My Gait (barrier six on the front line). Grumpee will be driven by Aiden De Campo, who guided Patched to a five-length victory over Luvaflair in a 2536m mobile event at his first city appearance on August 5, 2022.
Thats Not My Gate made his metropolitan debut on May 30, 2023 when he began from 40m and finished second to Bromwich. Chris Lewis will drive Thats Not My Gait on Friday night, and Patched will be handled by Jocelyn Young, who has driven the gelding once, when a neck second to Evas Image 44 starts ago, on December 22, 2023.
Grumpee has raced 45 times for eight wins, nine placings and $91,289 in prizemoney. His past two runs at Pinjarra have been outstanding. On December 8 he started off the 30m mark in a 2116m stand and worked forward to take the lead 1400m from home on his way to winning by seven lengths from the pacemaker Tilthesunsets.
Then, a fortnight later, Grumpee started from the No. 6 barrier in a 2185m mobile event at Pinjarra when he burst to the front after 100m and went on to beat Aldebaran Jensen by five lengths.
Grumpee has shown his liking for sprint events in Victoria, winning twice and finishing second once at Melton over 1720m as well as finishing second over 1609m at Bendigo.
Nine-year-old Patched can never be underestimated. He has earned $285,623 from 24 wins and 26 placings from 71 starts for Young, improving his career record to 101 starts for 28 wins, 37 placings and $316,298.
Thats My Gait has raced 99 times for 18 wins, 29 placings and $173,570, and for Young he has had 61 starts for 11 wins, 18 placings and $110,347.
While Young holds a strong hand in Friday night’s race, Nigel Johns, a master trainer of trotters, has sound prospects with Luvaflair (outside of the back line) and Aldebaran Sundown (No. 1 barrier).
Johns will drive Aldebaran Sundown, while Donald Harper will enjoy his time in the sulky behind Luvaflair, a versatile mare with a splendid record of 149 starts for 29 wins, 47 placings and $300,393. Harper has enjoyed great success with Luvaflair, the chestnut mare he has driven for 16 wins and 24 placings.
Five-year-old mare Majestic Ga Ga, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko for trainer Michael Young, possesses dazzling gate speed and is capable of crossing to the front from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line. She is a smart frontrunner who can also finish strongly when driven with a sit.
Majestic Ga Ga has raced 23 times in WA for ten wins and eight placings to improve her career record to 52 starts for 16 wins and 16 placings. At her most recent appearance and at her first attempt over 1730m she led from barrier six and won by 2m from Patched, rating 1.58.6. She has won over 1650m at Bendigo and over 1720m at Melton.
