by Ken Casellas
High-priced New Zealand import Shandale should make amends for his defeat as a 6/4 on favourite last Friday night by winning the Retravision 1800 Too Hot Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He started from the outside barrier (No. 9) last week and raced at the rear before moving to eighth at the bell, out three wide, and finishing with plenty of determination to be a one-length second to another talented four-year-old in Overboard Again.
The final quarters of the race were covered in 27.1sec. and 28.2sec. — times which made Shandale’s task of winning almost impossible.
This week Shandale will certainly appreciate a far better barrier at No. 2 on the front line and he should carry too many guns for his 11 rivals.
Shandale, who has had 35 starts for nine wins and ten placings, is trained at Henley Brook by Mike Reed and will again be driven by Shannon Suvaljko. This combination also has excellent prospects in the Retravision 60 Price Promise Pace with smart New Zealand-bred mare Foxy Dame.
Foxy Dame put the writing on the wall for another success with an impressive performance last Friday night when she started out wide at barrier seven and was in eighth place, four back on the pegs at the bell, before finishing powerfully from fifth on the home turn to be a close third to Superimposed and Lord Lombo.
That was her fourth placing from her past five starts and she has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside of the back line. She is at her best when held up for a late charge.
Two of Foxy Dame’s chief rivals, Sheer Rocknroll (No. 9) and Hidden Bad (No. 8) have drawn wide barriers, but are capable of overcoming those draws. Four-year-old Sheer Rocknroll, trained by Ross Olivieri, has been a revelation, with 19 wins, ten placings and stakes of $211,402 from 46 starts, while the Nathan Turvey-trained Hidden Bad is capable of a bold effort at her first appearance for almost five months.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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