23 August 2018 | Ken Casellas
Astute punters who fancy all-up wagering should seriously consider investing in an all-up treble at Gloucester Park on Friday night with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained trio of El Jacko, Mitch Maguire and Vampiro.
These three New Zealand-bred pacers to be driven by Ryan Warwick look outstanding winning prospects.
El Jacko will start from out wide at barrier eight in race four, the Book Your Christmas Function at the Beau Rivage Pace, and the five-year-old should carry far too many guns for his ten rivals in this 2536m event. He started from the outside barrier in a field of eight over 1730m last Friday night and came from last in the middle stages to be third, three wide, at the bell before finishing third behind stablemate Johnny Disco, who gave his rivals little chance by speeding over the final quarters in 28.1sec. and 27.2sec.
El Jacko has a winning record of 41 per cent (16 wins and 12 placings from 39 starts) and is sure to develop into a strong open-class performer.
Four-year-old Mitch Maguire has a winning record of 64 per cent (16 wins and three placings from 25 starts) and looks a star bet from barrier two on the front line in race six, the third heat of the Schrader Pace over 2130m.
Mitch Maguire, winner of the group 1 Golden Slipper in July 2016 and the group 2 Western Gateway Pace over Maczaffair and Herrick Roosevelt in March 2017, has resumed after a 13-month absence with effortless victories in stands over 2116m and 2631m at Pinjarra. He has unwound powerful finishing bursts to win at both those starts, but should be capable of leading throughout in Friday night’s race.
Vampiro is destined for bigger and better things and looks a certainty from 20 metres in race eight, the 2503m $7 Pints at JP’s Sportsbar Pace. His winning record is 39 per cent (12 wins and 11 placings from 31 starts).
He gave a superb display last Friday night when he sustained a spirited three-wide burst from sixth at the bell to be a close second to the speedy Johnny Disco.
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