Promising pacer American Eyes, the only runner in the field of twelve in Friday night’s $30,000 Harry Capararo Westbred Pace for four and five-year-old mares who has not contested a Gloucester Park event, has bright prospects of making a winning debut at pacing’s headquarters.
At her first five starts for Serpentine trainer Gary Jones, American Eyes has shown exciting ability and is on the doorstep of a lucrative career.
She has the talent to overcome the disadvantage of being the least experienced runner in the field as well as beginning out wide at barrier No. 8 on the front line.
American Eyes, who will be driven for the first time by Maddison Brown, has the class to make amends for her unlucky defeat in a 2185m event at Pinjarra on Monday when she began from the inside of the back line and moved off the pegs behind the frontrunning Maddy Rocks after 250m to enjoy an ideal run in the one-out, one-back position.
She was sixth at the bell in the one-out, two-back position, but was shuffled back behind tiring horses to tenth 500m from home. Then 100m later she got into the clear, started a four-wide burst, and ran home powerfully to finish second to smart four-year-old gelding Captain Said So, who had established a commanding lead on the home turn.
American Eyes is by outstanding sire American Ideal and is out of Elegant Eyes, a younger full-sister to Innocent Eyes, who was a star performer who earned $421,875 from 18 wins and 17 placings from 62 starts. Elegant Eyes was retired to the breeding barn after having seven starts for a win at Harvey and three placings as a two-year-old in 2005.
Four-year-olds Lucky Copy, Ruby Lou and Delulu are likely to prove the toughest rivals for American Eyes.
Lucky Copy is racing keenly for trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo and is favourably drawn at barrier three on the front line. She has won at three of her five appearances this season, and de Campo is contemplating making a bid for the early lead.
“Gloucester Park wins at her past two starts have been good, and though she is up in grade she will take some catching if she finds the front, particularly as American Eyes and Delulu have drawn the two widest barriers,” said de Campo.
Shannon Suvaljko is optimistic about the chances of the Kevin Keys-trained Ruby Lou, who will begin from the No. 2 barrier on the back line. “She impressed me with her effort in finishing third behind Fakenit and Copy Cat Queen last Friday night and is my best winning chance on the night,” said Suvaljko.
Delulu, to be driven by Deni Roberts for trainers Greg and Skye Bond, is a talented sit-sprinter who is ready for a strong showing after unwinding powerful finishing bursts for eye-catching thirds at her two appearances after a spell.
