12 October 2017 | Ken Casellas
Punters will be looking to make a bright start to Friday night’s meeting at Gloucester Park by supporting Millview Sienna in the opening event, the second heat of the Retravision Preux Chevalier Pace for mares.
Mt Helena trainer Ray Williams is confident the sparingly-raced New Zealand-bred five-year-old will prove hard to beat, particularly after she drew favourably at the No. 2 barrier on the front line in the 2130m event. She has won at two of her first four starts in Western Australia after winning at five of her 24 New Zealand outings.
“She goes alright and the draw helps a bit,” said Williams. “She is still learning, but her latest run was good. She’s essentially a sit-and-kick horse, but she seems quite strong and I’d like to say that we’ll jump to the front. I know that Rockin The Boys gets out smartly. However, I’ll leave things to Ryan (Warwick); he can play things by ear.”
At her most recent appearance, Millview Sienna began from barrier five and raced three wide early to move into the breeze before surging to the front 300m from home and winning easily from You Bettor Watch Me at a 1.56,9 rate over 1730m.
Four-year-old Rockin The Boys, the youngest mare in the race, is in superb form for Hopelands trainer Debra Lewis, with her past eight starts producing five wins and two seconds to improve her career record to 29 starts for nine wins and eight placings for earnings of $50,834.
She gave a bold frontrunning display and fought on determinedly to win from Ruling Gold and Abraxas Blues over 2130m last Friday night when she dashed over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 27.9sec.
“This week’s race looks a little bit harder, but she’ll be around the place again,” said reinsman Chris Lewis. “She’s consistent and I expect her to run a nice race.”
Williams also has high hopes for New Zealand-bred five-year-old Walkinshaw, who is unbeaten at two West Australian starts. The Mach Three stallion was untroubled to score an easy victory over Lightning Jolt in a C1-C4 event over 2130m on Tuesday evening. He started from barrier seven and dashed to the front after 400m and sprinted over the final 400m in 27.8sec. That was his eighth win from 39 starts.
“We put our toe in the water and nominated him for the Inter Dominion championship,” Williams said. “In fairness to the horse, he probably needs this preparation and then a break. And then, hopefully, he comes back and turns into a nice horse. At the moment, we’re just happy with the way he’s going.”
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