by Ken Casellas
New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Im Master Charlie has struck form with a vengeance and is poised to bring up the third leg of a hat-trick when he starts off the front line in the Intersport Slater Gartrell Handicap, a stand over 2503m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The gelding, trained at Blythewood by Michael Brennan, will be driven by Gary Hall jun. and he should fight out the finish with the in-form Tommy Be Good, veteran False Promise and Perfect Mach, who has been placed at his first four starts after resuming from a spell.
Im Master Charlie warmed up for Friday night’s event in fine style with a powerful performance to win the Bridgetown Cup over 2597m on Sunday. He started from the back line and lost ground when he met with interference soon after the start. He was ninth with 950m to travel when Michael Grantham sent him forward, three wide. He sustained his strong burst to hit the front 90m from the post and won by almost two lengths from Master Jaxon.
Ten nights earlier he started off 30m, raced three wide in the middle stages and then in the breeze before surging away to win by four lengths from Over Loaded.
Tommy Be Good, trained by Katja Warwick, will have many admirers and should prove hard to beat from his favourable draw at No. 3 on the front line. He produced a “get-on-me next start” effort when he finished strongly from tenth at the bell to finish fourth behind Aussie Delight in a 2536m mobile event last Friday night.
Chris Voak brought Tommy Be Good home with a strong burst from three back on the pegs to win convincingly from Assassinator and Perfect Mach in a 2503m stand at his previous outing, a month earlier.
Machrihanish, trained at Bunbury by Stephen de Campo, ran a sound trial for his engagement in the third heat of the Intersport Slater Gartrell Clarke Pace on Friday night when he finished a well-beaten fourth behind Im Master Charlie in the Bridgetown Cup.
The five-year-old had a torrid run. He settled down in fourth position, one-out and one-back, before Aiden de Campo switched him three wide after 400m to challenge the pacemaker Mach Tiger. He eventually drew to a clear lead 350m later and then had to withstand a spirited challenge from Master Jaxon with 1400m to travel. He led until the final 400m and then wilted in the home straight.
From barrier two on Friday night Machrihanish should either lead or be in a commanding position, His chief rival and likely favourite will be Livura, who is ideally drawn at barrier two on the back line. Livura, trained and driven by Nathan Turvey, is a model of consistency, with his 49 starts producing 13 wins, nine seconds and 11 thirds.
Livura, who will be having his start for 11 weeks, is capable of unwinding a powerful finishing burst and he looks set for many more wins.
He has had a spell since his latest appearance, at Gloucester Park on January 6 when he ran on from fourth at the bell to be a close second to Three Bears.
Aussie Delight, trained and driven by Garry Butler, also will have many admirers at his third outing after an absence of eight months. He won in effortless style from Eastwood Factor and Bandar last Friday night after racing in the breeze.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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