14 December 2017 | Ken Casellas
Vampiro was a $56.20 outsider last Friday night when he produced an eye-catching and unlucky fifth behind star New Zealander Ultimate Machete in the $200,000 Group 1 Retravision Golden Nugget.
The gelding, who is prepared by leading trainer Skye Bond and boasts a 44 per cent winning record, should make amends for that performance by winning the Gannon’s Racing Colours Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night. He is handily drawn at barrier three on the front line and Ryan Warwick should have him in front or in a commanding position throughout.
He was driven by Todd McCarthy in the Nugget and was forced three wide on the first turn before being checked in the back straight in the first circuit. He was eighth at the bell in the one-wide line before unwinding a powerful burst to finish fifth.
His previous eight appearances in his current campaign produced six wins and two second placings. This week he is poised for a showdown with another talented four-year-old in Runrunjimmydunn, a winner at eight of his 22 starts.
Runrunjimmydunn, to be driven by Gary Hall Jnr for top trainer Gary Hall Snr, will start from barrier four on the front line and looks the only serious threat to Vampiro.
Runrunjimmydunn started from the inside barrier and was not extended in leading all the way when he beat Sarah Goody by four lengths over 2185m at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon, with final quarters in 28.5sec. and 27.4sec.
Another pacer who contested the Golden Nugget and looks a star bet on Friday night is the Mike Reed-trained Maczaffair, who has the speed and class to overcome the disadvantage of starting from the outside barrier in a field of eight in the second heat of the 2130m Free Entry With Your Ashes Cricket Ticket Coulson Pace.
Shannon Suvaljko will be tempted to use Maczaffair’s sparkling gate speed in a bid to burst to an early lead. Maczaffair began brilliantly from barrier six when she led for the first 450m and then sat behind the pacemaker Ultimate Machete before running home solidly to be an excellent second to that star pacer.
Maczaffair was a $91.60 outsider last week, but will be at a considerably shorter quote this week as she attempts to notch her 13th win from 31 starts.
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