20 December 2018 | Ken Casellas
Capel horseman Aiden de Campo drove an inspired race to land Mileys Desire a superb winner at Gloucester Park last Saturday night, but he has caused a minor surprise by opting to handle Parisian Partygirl in preference to Mileys Desire in a heat of the NYE Brought To You By Retravision Coulson Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Mileys Desire, trained by de Campo’s father Andrew, will be driven by Mark Johnson from barrier two in the 2130m event for mares. Parisian Partygirl, trained at Bindoon by Bernie James, will start from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the field of eight.
Aiden de Campo has driven Mileys Desire 38 times for five wins, nine seconds and five thirds. Johnson has handled the mare eight times for one win, a second and a third. De Campo has driven Parisian Partygirl 27 times for three wins, ten seconds, six thirds, four fourths, three fifths and one sixth placing.
Mileys Desire began speedily from barrier four in a 2130m event last Saturday night and de Campo drove her hard in a concerted bid to wrest the lead from Ayana. Mileys Desire got to the front after a hectic first 300m and the lead time whizzed by in a fast 35.8sec.
Mileys Desire gained a well-needed breather with an opening 400m section of the final mile in 32.6sec., followed by a 30.7sec. quarter before final quarters in 28.9sec. and 29.4sec. She held on resolutely to win by a half-length from Rock N Roll Delight, rating 1.58.9.
Parisian Partygirl has a modest winning record of just 11 per cent from her eight wins from 71 starts. But she has been extremely consistent, notching 24 seconds and 11 thirds.
She impressed last Friday night when she started out wide at barrier eight and was tenth at the bell before sprinting home strongly from seventh at the 100m to finish a well-beaten fourth behind the outstanding four-year-old Our Angel of Harlem.
Parisian Partygirl and Mileys Desire should fight out the finish with the Greg and Skye Bond-trained Infinite Symbol, who will start from the No. 6 barrier. Infinite Symbol has won at seven of her past 14 starts and boasts a career record of 11 wins and ten placings from 36 starts.
One of the best bets on the program should be the Paula Petricevich-trained four-year-old Bettor B Abeliever, who will be driven by Kyle Harper from the favourable No. 2 barrier in the Fun For the Whole Family at GP on NYE Pace.
Bettor B Abeliever has resumed after a spell in fine fettle with a first-up all-the-way win over 2185m at Pinjarra and a splendid last-start second to Franco Edward over 2130m at Gloucester Park last Saturday night.
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