Outstanding young driver Emily Suvaljko has an important message for punters, suggesting they should overlook Lincoln Lou’s last placing behind Bettor Fortune in a 2536m WA Derby prelude last Friday night when studying the form for the opening event, the 2130m Derby Prelude.
Suvaljko will again be driving the Michael Young-trained Lincoln Lou from the favourable No. 2 barrier this week, and the New Zealand-bred gelding should prove hard to beat whether leading or racing with a sit.
Last week Lincoln Lou began from the outside barrier in the field of seven and he raced in last place on the pegs throughout while the hot favourite Bettor Fortune ambled along in front with quarters of 31sec., 29.8sec. and 29.2sec.
“They walked before the final 400 metres was run in 27.3sec., so he was never going to make any ground,” said Suvaljko. “He got off the pegs at the top of the straight, but he had pulled so hard that he didn’t sprint as good as he can.
“No. 2 barrier this week is a much better starting barrier (than the outside last week). Lincoln Lou has good gate speed, and he also goes really good with a sit and can run a fast (final) 400m.”
Champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond have four runners --- When In Vegas (barrier one), Rumble Strip (eight), Kinky (ten) and Captains Creek (11) --- and the stable’s No. 1 driver Deni Roberts has given punters a good lead by choosing to handle Rumble Strip.
Jack Callaghan will drive When In Vegas, Stuart McDonald will drive Kinky and Tom Nally will handle Captains Creek.
“I’ll drive Rumble Strip because he is a good strong pacer,” said Roberts. “He is going good, and his strength is his main attribute, so we may look to outstay his rivals.”
Chase Me, fresh from his excellent second to Bettor Fortune last week, When In Vegas, Elite Fleet and Boy Blue are all capable of winning in what should be a highly competitive event.
The inexperienced Boy Blue, trained and driven by Chris Voak, is a most interesting runner who will be making his first appearance at Gloucester Park. He has won in good style at Pinjarra at his past two outings after winning at Bunbury early in May.
Boy Blue was most impressive when he outclassed his eleven rivals over 2185m at Pinjarra last Monday week. He began from barrier five, settled down in last position and was tenth at the bell before starting a three-wide move 800m from home, following Lazarus Star and then bursting to the front with 390m to travel and careering way to win by 13 lengths from The Rizzler, rating 1.56.2 after a flying final 400m of 27.2sec.
Boy Blue will start from barrier six and Voak gives him a strong winning chance.
“I’m sure he will go well,” said Voak. “He will be driven sit-sprint from barrier five, and I’m sure he is up to the rest of them. He is quoted at $15 and is sixth favourite for the derby, but he is not even ranked in the top twenty.
“Boy Blue is just tipping his toe the water, and we will be talking highly about him in six to twelve months’ time.”
Voak also has sound claims in the final event, the 2130m Book Your Christmas Party Pace, in which he trains and will drive four-year-old Itsoktobegrey, who sustained a solid burst to finish fourth behind Raklou over 2130m.
“He surprised me with his performance and now I think he gets a chance to win a metro race,” said Voak. “I’ll be bullish to lead, and I expect him to be hard to catch.”
