26 October 2017 | Ken Casellas
Our Zak Whitby, the youngest and least experienced runner in the field of 11, should get punters away to a flying start by winning the opening event, the $20,000 TABtouch Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The four-year-old, bred, part-owned and trained by Ed Dewar, has drawn ideally at the No. 2 barrier on the front line and star reinsman Chris Lewis is aiming for an all-the-way victory over the 2130m trip.
Our Zak Whitby warmed up for this assignment in fine style with an effortless win over Kerrin Joseph and Abraxas Blues, rating 1.58.7 over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon. He sped over the final quarters in 27.7sec. and 27.4sec. to give his rivals no hope. His win improved his record to 11 wins, nine seconds and six third from 34 starts for stakes of $90,504.
“His Pinjarra win was very good,” Lewis said. “And he looks well placed from barrier two on Friday night. This is a suitable race for him and you would think he will be the leader and prove hard to beat.”
Lewis also has high hopes of scoring with the Ross Olivieri-trained Itz Bettor To Win in the 2536m Rubix Plumbing Pace. Itz Bettor To Win has finished fourth at his first two appearances in Western Australia and has an edge in class over his eight rivals on Friday night.
He has the ability to overcome the disadvantage of starting from out wide at barrier eight.
“The distance will suit him and he gets his chance to win a race,” said Olivieri. “I think he has improved since his latest run.” Lewis agreed, saying: “I think he will go the distance okay and this will be a good test for him, drawn out wide. He feels as though there’s more there and one would think that with more racing he will improve.”
Itz Bettor To Win, a winner of two 2700m stands at Alexandra Park in 2015, has not been disgraced in finishing fourth in two 2130m events since arriving in WA from Victoria.
He led when a first-up fourth behind Soho Tribeca and Bronze Seeker and then had a tough run in the breeze when fourth behind Rycroft and Mach Time.
Olivieri and Lewis are also looking forward to Sheer Rocknroll running in the $22,000 Book Your Hospitality For The 2017 TABtouch Inter Dominion Now Pace, a 2130m event for mares.
“What a great race it looks,” said Olivieri. “Only eight runners, but probably eight chances, or seven, anyway. Sheer Rocknroll is headed for the big races for mares in the summer, and she’s not quite there yet. However, we’re pleased with the way she’s working. She has been working with the likes of Motu Premier, Im Full of Excuses and Jambiani and has been highly competitive.”
Sheer Rocknroll, who will start from barrier six, has already amassed $279,888 in prizemoney. She has been unplaced at her past eight starts, mainly against top-class opposition, including Motu Premier, Soho Tribeca, Shandale, Simply Susational, Beaudiene Boaz, Jambiani and Tricky Styx. She is sure to appreciate a return to racing in an event restricted to mares. She ran on from eighth at the bell to finish fifth behind Motu Premier at her latest appearance, last Friday week.
Justin Prentice’s Major Reality, Jesse Moore’s Tricky Styx and Sheer Rocknroll are the class runners in the field, but they will need to be at their top to stave off challenges from in-form mares Donegal Rundlescreek, Dodolicious and Foxy Dame.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
