by Ken Casellas
Capel horseman Ash Markham has given punters a good lead by opting to drive Midnight Man in preference to Budd Sidewinder in the www.allwoodstud.com.au Westbred Pace for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Markham, who drove Nitro Lad to an all-the-way win at Northam on Tuesday night, is sure to attempt a similar success with Midnight Man, who has drawn the prized No. 1 barrier in the 2130m event.
Midnight Man, trained at Busselton by Peter Bell, is in good form. He set the pace when a close second to Rockin The Boys over 2100m at Bunbury last Saturday night. At his previous outing, the Village Jolt gelding led from barrier four and won by a neck from War Club over 2100m at Bunbury.
Markham has also driven the Mike Callegari-trained Budd Sidewinder at his past three starts for three placings at Gloucester Park. Budd Sidewinder enjoyed an ideal passage, one-out and one-back, when a sound third to Tyler Bret and Bravo Tex on Monday afternoon. He had a similar run when second to Yankee Boots at his previous start.
Ace reinsman Gary Hall jun. also has given punters a good lead by opting to drive Whozideawasthis in preference to Gangbuster in the Follow The Stars At Allwood Pace.
Wozideawasthis, trained by Gary Hall sen., will start from barrier three on the front line in the 2130m event, in which the Katja Warwick-trained Gangbuster will start from the prized No. 1 barrier, with Stuart McDonald in the sulky.
Whozideawasthis ended a losing sequence of 12 when he led from barrier two and beat Skippy Rascal and Mach Time at a 1.56.5 rate over 2130m last Friday night. That followed excellent seconds to Dana Duke and Rycroft at his first two appearances in Western Australia.
Hall has been the regular driver for Gangbuster, whose past seven starts have produced three wins and three seconds. Gangbuster started from barrier seven last Friday night and was restrained to last in a field of eight before dashing forward to work in the breeze when a fighting second to the pacemaker Im Lisart.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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