16 August 2018 | Ken Casellas
“He’s freshened up really well since his latest run and I can’t fault him,” said Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey when assessing the prospects of Simba Bromac, one of three stable runners in the second heat of the Schrader Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Turvey had no hesitation in declaring that Simba Bromac was the stable’s best prospect, ahead of Arthur Lowe and Robert The Bruce, and he is expecting the New Zealand-bred four-year-old to make amends for his last-start second behind Tyler Brett three Fridays ago.
Simba Bromac is perfectly drawn at barrier No. 1 and will be driven by Chris Lewis. Turvey will handle Robert The Bruce from barrier eight and Jocelyn Young will drive Arthur Lowe from the No. 5 barrier.
“Arthur Lowe is working very well, but is racing first-up and I’d say that he will probably need the run,” said Turvey. “And Robert The Bruce will need luck from his wide draw.
Simba Bromac boasts an outstanding record of 28 starts for 16 wins, six seconds and three thirds and he will be at short odds. But he should get punters away to a flying start in the first of the ten events on the program.
Turvey is also looking forward keenly to driving the extremely consistent six-year-old Livura, who will start out wide at barrier seven in the Inter Sport Slater Gartrell Pace over 2536m. This will be Livura’s first appearance since he finished with a typical stout-hearted burst to be second to Zennart on March 16.
“He is working really well, but 2536m first-up will test him,” Turvey said. “I will have to drive him patiently, but he never performs badly and I’m sure he will put his best foot forward.” Livura has had 76 starts for 19 wins and 31 placings for earnings of $209,315 and is still classified as an M1-class performer.
Hardest for Livura to beat appears to be the Greg and Skye Bond-trained The Freedom Fighter, who will be driven by Ryan Warwick from out wide at barrier No. 8.
The Freedom Fighter won six races in a row before an extremely gallant last-start second to Major Pocket over 2130m last Friday week when he started from barrier eight, raced three wide for the first 650m and then worked hard in the breeze before fighting on doggedly to fail by a head.
There is likely to be a spirited battle for the early lead between smart beginners Raffaello (barrier one) and Whenmechief (No. 2) and The Freedom Fighter is again expected to have a tough run in the breeze.
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