Star mare Penny Black is at the peak of her powers after superb victories in Free-For-Alls at her past two starts, and her trainer Michael Young is looking forward to her clash with superstar equine millionaire Mister Smartee in the $31,000 Tinney Lynney Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Penny Black, to be driven by Emily Suvaljko from barrier eight, and Mister Smartee (Stuart McDonald; barrier nine) are sure to dominate betting on the race, with Young hoping that Penny Black starting inside of her outstanding rival will prove to be a decisive factor in the result.
“Penny Black is thriving, and this is not the strongest Free-For-All,” said Young. “So, we will be aggressive and go forward at the start, and if we get to the breeze Mister Smartee will have to come from back to beat her.”
There is no denying the brilliance of Mister Smartee, whose form in four starts since resuming from a spell has been excellent, including a flying start from out wide at barrier eight and setting a brisk pace before winning easily from Captain Ravishing and Penny Black three starts ago.
But Penny Black has been equally impressive, winning easily at her latest two starts (over 2130m), beating Aardiebytheseaside and Heavenly Gipsy.
Aardiebytheseaside looks unbeatable when she begins from the No. 1 barrier in the opening event, the $27,000 North Coast Fibreglass Neerabup Pace over 2130m --- after being beaten from unfavourable barriers at her past two outings.
Aardiebytheseaside began from the outside of the back line in the group 3 Schrader Pace last Friday night when she was restrained early and was eighth at the bell before surging home to finish fifth behind Penny Black, with the final quarters (off the front) in 27.2sec. and 27.7sec.
Deni Roberts, who drives Aardiebytheseaside for leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, said: “Her recent runs have been very good. She has good gate speed, and we will be looking to lead and prove hard to beat.”
Roberts also should be prominent in the following two events, in which she will drive Rumble Strip (barrier four) in the 2130m Fibreglass Shower Specialists WA Derby Prelude and Thelittle Master (barrier seven) in the Bathroom Central WA Pace.
She chose Rumble Strip ahead of the Bond-trained stablemates Mad Monday (Stuart McDonald), Captainshavtime (Donald Harper) and Captains Creek (Tom Nally).
“Rumble Strip should be able to get forward from barrier four,” said Roberts. “He had to do too much work last start (when a fading ninth behind When In Vegas).” That followed smart wins at each of his three previous starts.
Hardest to beat for Rumble Strip are likely to be the polemarker and last-start winner Charivari, who will be driven by Jack Callaghan for trainer Ryan Bell, and the Aiden De Campo-trained and driven Runkle Crunch, who will begin from the inside of the back line after having no luck when unplaced at his first three starts in WA after arriving from New Zealand.
“This is a good draw for Runkle Crunch, and I think he will run a good race,” said De Campo. “He is a quality animal, but his first two runs here have been disappointing. At his latest start he was super when he ran through the line strongly (when fourth behind Bettor Fortune). If I had my time again, I would have gone wide at the 400m instead of going through in the centre. If he gets a crack at them this week, he will go really good.”
