Chris Voak, last season’s leading WA driver, is looking forward to exciting pacer Papinik’s return to action when the gelding starts off the 10 metre mark in the 2503m Go First Class With Ramsay’s Horse Transport Handicap at Gloucester park on Friday night.
“He’s probably my best drive for the night,” said Voak. “His trial at Pinjarra on Wednesday of last week was good and he will be unleashing a really good (late) burst on Friday night.”
Papinik, prepared by Ross Olivieri is unbeaten in stands, having won over 2631m at Pinjarra in March 2020 and scoring over 2116m at Pinjarra in January this year. He sprinted home brilliantly in those events, with final quarters of 27.7sec. and 27.4sec.
In his 2185m mobile trial last week Papinik started from barrier four and was restrained to the rear in the field of six. After a third quarter of the final mile in 28.8sec. he flew home over the final 400m in 26.8sec. to win by eight lengths from Bee Seventeen, rating 1.56.5.
“He is normally a good stand horse and is sure to perform well,” said Voak. “I have also got a big respect for Louie The Horse, who was a strong winner in a stand at Pinjarra on Monday.”
Louie The Horse, to be driven by star reinsman Ryan Warwick for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, will start from the No. 3 barrier on the front line on Friday night. The New Zealand-bred four-year-old set the pace in Monday’s 2631m event and impressed in winning by six and a half lengths from talented stablemate Lawrence.
It was a commanding and bold frontrunning display in which he dashed over the final three quarters in 29.4sec., 27.5sec. and 28sec. His past six starts have produced four wins and two seconds.
Medieval Man, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for trainer Michael Young, will start from the outside of the front line and will have admirers after his past three runs, all in stands, have produced wins at Bunbury and Pinjarra and a half-head second to Lawrence at Gloucester Park. “If he gets away fast and leads, he’s a chance of beating Louie The Horse and Papinik,” said Hall.
Papinik, who will be having his first start for eight weeks, is the least experienced runner in Friday night’s event, having raced only 12 times for nine wins, one second and two thirds. His flying finish will make him extremely hard to beat this week.
