Gloucester Park Photo by Pacepix
Prentice Charge Breathing Fire
Rolling Fire will be out to make it back-to-back wins when he lines up in tonight’s Christmas In July Book Now Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
The Justin Prentice-trained pacer was too classy in his most recent outing, coming from last to beat Soho Moonraker.
He takes on a small but select field in tonight’s $30,000 event, including the consistent Im The Black Flash, Alcopony and Arma Xfactor.
Prentice said now was the right time to test Rolling Fire in Free-For-All company.
“He’s in really good form and it was an impressive win last start,” Prentice told Racing WA Harness.
“He hasn’t won too many times like he did last start.
“It gets hard for him this week though, having his first go at Free-For-All and draws eight in a stronger field.”
Trent Wheeler drives Rolling Fire for the first time since last December’s Golden Nugget (2536m), when he finished fourth to subsequent Nullarbor winner Mister Smartee.
The gelding will start from barrier seven tonight, with main rival Im The Black Flash getting the draw advantage in four.
Prentice said he would leave it up to Wheeler on how to overcome the draw.
“Trent drove him in the Nugget and he didn’t do anything wrong in those races,” he said.
“We will leave it up to Trent and if the speed tells him to put him into it, then he can do that.”
Prentice will also be represented by Jawsoflincoln in the field of eight.
The six-year-old was unplaced behind Talks Up A Storm last week and will have to overcome the outside draw tonight.
Prentice said he was a little underwhelmed by last week’s performance.
“I expected him to go well last start and he was a little bit disappointing,” he said.
“I expected him to let down when the gap opened up.
“He’s going to need a good run from out there.”
Meanwhile, Prentice’s stable stars Mighty Ronaldo and Never Ending are both set to resume racing in the next month.
Motu To Make Mark At Gloucester Park
Reinsman Gary Hall Jnr is hoping race conditions bring out the best in Gary Hall Snr’s stable acquisition Franco Motu in tonight’s Beau Rivage Open For Xmas In July Pace (2130m) at Gloucester Park.
Franco Motu joined Hall Snr’s stable earlier this year, having won his only two starts in New Zealand.
Franco Motu was too slick for his rivals, headed by Machnificent, in a Byford trial last Saturday in his first public appearance for Hall Snr.
Hall Jnr said he was pleased with Franco Motu’s trial, having not show too much in trackwork.
“I wasn’t able to get much of a feel of him at home,” Hall Jnr told Racing WA Harness.
“His work was nothing great, but he sparked up at trials and turned into a horse.
“He’s been working up with Chase Me all the way along and he’s not in the same class of horse as Chase Me.
“Hopefully he just saves it for the big occasion.”
The four-year-old opened a $1.12 favourite with TABtouch for tonight’s event, where he will start from barrier six.
His main danger Fat Louie drew outside him in barrier eight, while Drive Line has drawn barrier five.
Hall Jnr said tonight was the perfect starting point for Franco Motu.
“It’s a good race for him,” he said.
“Based on the trial, even if he hasn’t improved off that, he should get the job done.
“He seems to be pretty versatile off what we’ve seen of him.
“I didn’t ask him to come out in that trial, but he wanted to.”
Hall Jnr said Franco Motu wasn’t purchased specifically for the Golden Nugget, but indicated he was capable to be targeted at the four-year-old feature later this year.
The star reinsman will team up with Hall Snr earlier on the Gloucester Park card when Im The Black Flash lines up in the Christmas In July Book Now Pace (2130m).
The five-year-old produced another good performance when third to Talks Up A Storm last Friday night and Hall Jnr said he expected more of the same tonight.
“I thought he was good the way he ran through the line,” he said.
“I’m not sure what happens early, but I think if Flash got to the front I don’t think they would see which way he went.
“Although he’s a better horse when he can be sat up.”
