Speedy mare Sweet Vivienne has a losing sequence of six, but trainer-reinsman Chris Voak confidently predicts she will return to winning form at Gloucester Park on Friday night when she begins from the prized No. 1 barrier in the $27,000 Rega Pumps and Sprayers Westral Mares Classic Prelude over 2130m.
“I think she will get her chance to lead and bounce back and will be primed for the big race (the $150,000 Mares Classic final) the following week). I’m sure she will take some beating this week when I expect Little Darling to be her main danger.
“I don’t expect Heavenly Gipsy to come out of the gate on Friday night.”
Last Friday night Heavenly Gipsy, the $2.90 favourite, burst straight to the front from the No. 2 barrier in the Norms Daughter Classic, easily beating out Sweet Vivienne, who began from the No. 1 barrier.
But Heavenly Gipsy was put under early pressure from Aardiebytheseaside and Little Darling, with the lead time a sizzling 34.7sec. Heavenly Gipsy continued to set the pace and was under duress from the persistent Little Darling in the breeze before she wilted to finish in 11TH position behind the strong-finishing Penny Black.
Emily Suvaljko will drive Heavenly Gipsy, who will start from the No. 3 barrier. “I think we will just wait for Sweet Vivienne to slot through to lead from barrier one,” said Heavenly Gipsy’s trainer Michael Young.
“Sweet Vivienne keeps drawing one, and we burn up every week, trying to cross her. The final of the Mares Classic is the following Friday, so we will be giving Heavenly Gipsy a really soft run. There is no point in burning with 34sec. lead times.”
Voak pointed out that Sweet Vivienne was dragged back approaching the home turn by the wilting Heavenly Gipsy and then was badly hampered for room in the home straight.
Little Darling, to be driven by Jocelyn Young for trainer Cameron Ross, will start from the outside barrier in the field of eight, and though she has a losing sequence of twelve she looms as a serious winning prospect.
She faded to finish eighth last Friday night but was most impressive a week earlier when she raced wide early and then in eighth position before surging home to finish an eye-catching third behind Wonderful To Fly.
Adding considerable interest to Friday night’s race will be the return to racing after a six-month absence of four-year-old Madam Publisher, who is favourably drawn at barrier two for trainer-reinsman Stuart McDonald.
Madam Publisher, who will be making her first appearance for six months, has excellent potential and her nine wins from 20 starts includes an easy victory over Atlantic Gem and Lion Queen in the WA Oaks in October last year.
“She has recovered from a fractured splint bone in her nearside hind leg,” said her trainer and driver Stuart McDonald. “She is working well but will probably be a bit underdone. However, I thought I would have one last ditch effort to try to get a start in the Mares Classic.
“She would have to win or put up a massive effort. She can win, judged by the way she is working.”
Serpentine trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green is also hoping his mare Xceptional Arma will run a bold race --- at her third start after ten months on the sidelines --- when she begins from barrier four.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck at her two runs back; she was held up at vital stages when fourth behind Wonderful To Fly last Friday week,” said Egerton-Green.
