by Ken Casellas
Nathan Turvey is driving in grand form and he should bring up his century of winners for the season at Gloucester Park on Friday night. His best prospects are Livura (Choices Flooring Midland Pace) and Blazing Saddles (Choices Flooring Northam Pace).
Turvey landed a double with Blazing Saddles and Springfield Hugh at Pinjarra on Monday and was successful with Robert The Bruce on Tuesday night. His record for the season stands at 99 wins, 110 seconds and 89 thirds from 842 drives.
Livura is an ultra-consistent five-year-old who has excellent prospects on Friday night from the No. 2 barrier. He sustained a powerful three-wide burst to finish a neck second to Messi over 2242m at Narrogin on Tuesday of last week. That followed a fast-finishing second to Ideal Tyson and Messi over 2130m at Gloucester Park at his previous outing.
Blazing Saddles has drawn the prized No. 1 barrier on Friday night and Turvey will be anxious to set the pace. Blazing Saddles broke through for his first win at his fifth start when he led from barrier one and beat Jessie Joan in convincing style over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday.
Gary Hall jun. gave punters a good lead when he opted to drive The Publisher in preference to Heez Manly in the Choices Flooring Joondalup Pace for three-year-olds.
He had driven both pacers to stylish wins at their most recent starts. The Publisher led all the way from barrier one when he won from Walkabout Creek and The Storm Chief over 2130m last Friday night. Six nights earlier The Publisher raced three wide for most of the way before winning by a head from stablemate Heez Manly.
Heez Manly led from barrier two and held on gamely to win narrowly from Vampiro over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday. He impressed with final quarters in 27.9sec. and 27.5sec.
Vampiro was most impressive at his first Australian start when he worked hard in the breeze and finished with great determination. The gelding, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, will start from barrier three in Friday night’s race and is sure to issue a spirited challenge to The Publisher and Heez Manly (who will be handled by Clint Hall).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
