Wide barrier won’t stop Gee Heza Sport
Under the preferential draw conditions of the $50,000 Nova Winter Cup at Gloucester Park on Friday night star pacer Gee Heza Sport had to begin from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line.
But the New Zealand-bred seven-year-old is racing in such grand form that he should overcome this disadvantage and prove the master of his eleven rivals.
“The draw doesn’t help us at all,” said talented driver Deni Roberts. “However, the distance (2536m) helps us, and we have options. He will be pretty sharp, and he has done well since winning last Friday night.”
Roberts and champion trainers Greg and Skye Bond will be anxious to overcome the disappointment of failing narrowly to win last year’s Winter Cup when Tenzing Bromac raced in the breeze outside the pacemaker Jumpingjackmac before taking a narrow lead 220m from home and then being beaten by a head in the final stride by Never Ending, who unleashed a spectacular burst from a seemingly hopeless position in eighth place with 250m to travel.
Gee Heza Sport is a powerful stayer, with his three appearances over 2536m at Gloucester Park producing two easy victories and a second placing to Mister Smartee in the $1.2 million Nullarbor slot race in April this year.
Roberts has a splendid record in the sulky behind Gee Heza Sport, having driven him nine times for seven wins, one second and a ninth placing (when he began from the No. 9 barrier, raced wide early and then in the breeze before wilting to last behind Wonderful To Fly over 2130m).
The Bonds will be looking for their second win in the Winter Cup, following $5.90 chance Ocean Ridge’s fast-finishing last-stride nose victory over the $2.15 favourite Chicago Bull in 2020.
Hall Of Fame trainer Gary Hall snr will be relying on Im The Black Flash to give him a remarkable 12TH success in the Winter Cup, following wins with Kaydee (1994), The Falcon Strike (2003), Iontheball (2006), Washakie (2008), Im Themightyquinn (2009 and 2013), Davey Maguire (2012), Machtu (2015), Run Oneover (2016), Tact Major (2019) and Prince Of Pleasure (2023).
Five-year-old Im The Black Flash has drawn the coveted No. 1 barrier and will be driven for the first time by Kyle Symington, who was engaged after Gary Hall jnr elected to handle Mighty Ronaldo, who faces a stern test from out wide at barrier eight at his second outing after a spell.
Hall has chosen to drive Mighty Ronaldo, a winner of three group 1 feature events, who is prepared by astute trainer Justin Prentice, who will celebrate his 37TH birthday on Saturday. He trained and drove Never Ending for his dazzling victory in last year’s Winter Cup.
Prentice also will be represented by the in-form five-year-old Rolling Fire, who will be driven by Trent Wheeler from an awkward draw at barrier seven. Rolling Fire has returned to his best form with strong-finishing wins over 2536m and 2130m at his past two outings.
Busselton trainer Barry Howlett, who turned 70 on Wednesday, will be looking for his ultra-consistent six-year-old Little Darling to become the fifth mare to win the Winter Cup which was first run in 1943 when Cliff Clarke was successful with Royal Sheik, who overcame the 84-yard handicap to beat Wise General and Princess Doral.
When Aiden De Campo drove Tricky Styx for trainer Jesse Moore in 2017 that mare became the first of her sex to win the Winter Cup since Phil Coulson trained and drove the mighty Color Glo to victory in 1966.
De Campo will drive the speedy eight-year-old for Coolup trainer Peter King on Friday night when the gelding will be an outsider despite seconds behind Paul Edward and Gee Heza Sport at his past two starts.
Paul Edward returned to his best form when he finished strongly to win from Longreach Bay over 2130m last Friday week. Trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green is delighted with Paul Edward drawing the inside of the back line, saying: “This is a perfect draw, and he likes to be on the rails.”
Mr Fantastic is fancied first-up
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Mr Fantastic has been somewhat of a gay deceiver during his 51-start career, but trainer Ryan Bell believes the gelding has turned the corner and is capable of a bold first-up effort when he begins from the No. 1 barrier in the Don’t Think Just Nova Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a serious horse who has had a few issues,” explained Bell, who will be driving the pacer for the first time in a race.
“He is working brilliantly, and I reckon he will lead and take some catching.”
Mr Fantastic is a noted frontrunner, with his most recent four wins having been when he has set the pace in races at Gloucester Park. This will be his first appearance since he raced against formidable opposition, including Pinny Tiger, Swingband, Ima Fivestar General, Otis and Blitzembye, when he was a $51 outsider who worked hard in the breeze and finished third behind Dalvey Robyn and Swingband.
Also racing first-up for Bell in Friday night’s race is Machs Bettor, who will be driven by Liam Elliott from barrier four. “He will probably need the run, but he is forward enough to win if he gets a cosy trip,” said bell.
In an even field Mr Fantastic’s most serious rivals appear to be Im Lightning Banner, Quinton and Louie Dior.
Four-year-old Im Lightning Banner has impressed with eight wins and five placings from 21 starts, and he is favourably drawn at barrier two on the back line for trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green.
Im Lightning Banner resumed after a spell last Friday week when he raced wide early to move to the breeze before gaining a good sit in the one-out, one-back position. This was his first outing for five months and he faded to finish seventh behind No Noney in a strong field.
“He had to do a bit too much to get to the breeze, and this week from his handy barrier he shouldn’t have to do too much and should get home good,” said a confident Egerton-Green. “He has trained on well since his first-up run.”
Four-year-old Quinton, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed, is racing consistently and should be prominent after starting from the inside of the back line, immediately Mr Fantastic.
Roberts opts for Chugach
Star driver Deni Roberts deliberated at length before giving punters a good lead by choosing to handle Chugach in preference to his stablemate and promising filly Slay Queen in the Nathan, Nat and Shaun For Breakfast Pace over 1730m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Slay Queen, who was most impressive in winning at a 1.55.4 rate over 1684m at Pinjarra on Monday this week, will again be driven by Stuart McDonald from the No. 3 barrier, while Chugach, racing first-up for four months, is awkwardly drawn at barrier seven.
“Behind the scenes Chugach has been pretty good, while Slay Queen is very improved and I liked her win in good time at Pinjarra,” said Roberts. “If she gets to the front, she is capable of winning and beating the colts and geldings.”
Chugach gave a sample of his ability earlier in the year when he raced three times for wins at Pinjarra and Gloucester Park before setting the pace and finishing a close second to Wishing Belle in the $50,000 Champagne Classic at a 1.56.4 rate over 1730m on March 21.
Friday night’s race appears to be a very open affair with all ten runners capable of a strong showing. Ace Baskerville trainer Ryan Bell holds a strong hand with four runners --- Strong The Striker, (barrier one), Fear The Storm (five), Majestic Lombo (six) and Ma Petite Dame (eight).
Bell will drive Majestic Lombo, who notched his second win from three starts when he enjoyed an ideal trip in the one-out, one-back position for most of the way before finishing determinedly to win by a head from Strong The Striker, rating 1.59 over 1780m at Northam last Saturday week.
While Bell admitted that his four runners would be tested, he declared that Strong The Striker, to be driven by Liam Elliott, was likely to prove the best of his quartet, saying: “He’s a handy little pacer and I think that if he hadn’t got on to his knee at Northam and lost a bit of balance I’m pretty sure he would have won the race. If he can hold the front on Friday, he will take some catching.
“Majestic Lombo has surprised me. He keeps on getting better. He will need some luck from barrier six, but the way he is working and racing shows that he is definitely a chance.
“Fear The Storm (to be driven by Trent Wheeler) is a nice colt, going forward. He will need the hit-out but is forward enough to take advantage of it if he gets a nice run.”
Like Fear The Storm, Ma Petite Dame (Kyle Symington) will be racing first-up after a spell. She will be making her first appearance since she set the pace from barrier four and scored a convincing victory over Wishing Belle in the $125,000 Sales Classic, rating 1.57.4 over 1730m on February 28.
“Ma Petite Dame will be driven quietly, hoping for the best,” said Bell. “She is a classy filly, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she finishes top three. This is a very good race, with several chances.”
Leading trainer Michael Young will be represented by Cease To React (to be driven by Gary Hall jnr from the outside of the front line) and Butter Me Up, to be handled by Emily Suvaljko as the only runner on the back line.
“Cease To React is the better of the two, but because he won those early races, he is drawing wide which brings him back to the pack,” said Young.
Young is looking for another strong performance from Blaze On, who will be driven by Gary Hall jnr from the outside barrier (No. 9) in the Vale Pat Duncan Pace over 2130m.
After a dashing first-up win on June 13 Blaze On has worked hard in the breeze at his next two races for excellent seconds to Brickies Dream and No Noney.
“Blaze On is being crucified by wide barriers in pref.-draw races,” said Young. “However, he is racing extremely well and is versatile and capable of fighting out the finish again this week.”
Sweet Pins is a coming star
Punters will have to wait until the final event at Gloucester Park on Friday night to watch the first appearance at headquarters of New Zealand-bred four-year-old Sweet Pins, who gives every indication of developing an outstanding pacer.
This will be the horse’s second career start --- after a brilliant debut victory when he rated 1.56.5 in beating Ebee Aviator by seven lengths over 1684m at Pinjarra on July 1 last year.
He is trained by Gary Hall snr and is driven by Gary Hall jnr, and he reappeared after a 12-month absence when he contested a six-horse Byford trial over 2150m last Saturday.
He was most impressive, settling down in last position in the Indian file trial before being eased off the pegs 1200m from home, dashing to the front soon afterwards and racing away with final 400m sections of 29.3sec. and 28.5sec. to win by eight and a half lengths from Balingup Boy.
Sweet Pins will begin from the No. 3 barrier on the front line in Friday night’s Smooth FM On Digital Radio Pace and should burst to an early lead before leaving his ten rivals in his wake.
The Hall camp should win the previous event, the $25,000 Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel Pace over 2130m, with the highly promising New Zealand-bred three-year-old Chase Me, who will start from barrier six.
Chase Me has not been extended in winning at his first two appearances in WA, both over 2130m at Gloucester Park --- after his six New Zealand starts produced three wins and three placings.
Serpentine trainer Dylan Egerton-Green holds a strong hand in the $23,000 Fresh Hits And Throwbacks On Nova Pace over 2130m with three smart mares Grand Couteau, Rebline and Nase Vira.
He has given punters a valuable lead by deciding to drive Nase Vira, who will begin from the outside of the back line, while Deni Roberts will partner Grand Couteau (barrier four), and Ryan Warwick will drive Rebline from the inside of the back line.
Nase Vira resumed after a six-month absence last Friday night when she caught the eye, coming from eighth at the bell with a sparkling late burst to finish fifth behind Heavenly Gipsy (who rated 1.55.6 after a final 800m of 57.1sec.).
Grand Couteau made a splendid return to action last Friday week after a 13-month injury enforced absence when Egerton-Green drove her to an all-the way win, rating 1.57.6 over 2130m.
“She is capable of winning again,” said Egerton-Green, but I have decided to drive Nase Vira. I like her and have driven her in all of her races (for seven wins and four placings from 22 starts).”
